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Women's National Cricket League

National domestic 50-over competition for women's cricket in Australia

Women's National Cricket League

National domestic 50-over competition for women's cricket in Australia

FieldValue
nameWomen's National Cricket League
imageWNCL Logo.png
countryAustralia
administratorCricket Australia
cricket formatLimited overs cricket (50 overs)
first1996–97
last2025–26
next2026–27
tournament formatRound-robin tournament and final
participants7
championsNew South Wales (21st title)
most successfulNew South Wales (21 titles)

The Women's National Cricket League (WNCL) is the national domestic 50-over competition for women's cricket in Australia. Featuring seven teams—one from every state, plus the Australian Capital Territory—each season's winner is awarded the Ruth Preddy Cup. New South Wales have historically dominated the competition, appearing in the first 24 title deciders and winning 20 championships. The streak of final appearances was broken in the 2020–21 season when they finished in fourth place. New South Wales are the current champions.

Beginning in 1996–97, the WNCL replaced the Australian Women's Cricket Championships which had taken place in a two-week tournament format since 1930–31. In conjunction with its Twenty20 counterparts—the more recently established Australian Women's Twenty20 Cup and its high-profile successor, the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL)—the league is cited as a bedrock foundation for developing the standard of women's cricket in the country, helping to produce world-class talent as well as attracting top international players. In particular, it is considered a crucial platform for Australia's finest young cricketers to further develop their skills and strive for national team selection.

The WNCL has experienced a rising level of professionalism since its inception, though the most notable breakthrough occurred in 2017 when the Australian Cricketers' Association negotiated a watershed deal with Cricket Australia to expand the total female payment pool from $7.5 million to $55.2 million.

Teams

Map of Australia with each state / territory shaded in its cricket team's main colour.

The tournament features seven teams, with matches played across Australia at a combination of bigger venues including the WACA Ground in Perth and Blundstone Arena in Hobart, as well as smaller grounds including CitiPower Centre in Melbourne and Karen Rolton Oval in Adelaide.

Originally a five-team competition, the league was expanded to include the Australian Capital Territory in 2009–10 and Tasmania in 2010–11. Cricket ACT fields a team in the league despite being a non-member association of Cricket Australia.

TeamNicknameHome groundFirst seasonTitles wonRunners-up
Australian Capital TerritoryMeteorsEPC Solar Park2009–100
New South WalesBreakersNorth Sydney Oval1996–9721
QueenslandFireAllan Border Field1996–971
South AustraliaSAKaren Rolton Oval1996–971
TasmaniaTigersNinja Stadium2010–113
VictoriaVicsCitiPower Centre1996–972
Western AustraliaWAWACA Ground1996–971

Results

Season summaries

SeasonChampionsRunners-upMost runsMost wicketsPlayer of the Year
1996–97New South WalesVictoriaZoe Goss (VIC) – 629Jo Garey (NSW) – 15Zoe Goss (VIC)
1997–98New South WalesSouth AustraliaBelinda Clark (NSW) – 611Karen Rolton (SA) – 14Belinda Clark (NSW)
1998–99New South WalesVictoriaKaren Rolton (SA) – 435Cathryn Fitzpatrick (VIC) – 14Belinda Clark (NSW)
1999–00New South WalesWestern AustraliaLisa Keightley (NSW) – 406Lisa Sthalekar (NSW) – 15Lisa Keightley (NSW)
2000–01New South WalesQueenslandKaren Rolton (SA) – 492Emma Liddell (NSW) – 17Karen Rolton (SA)
2001–02New South WalesVictoriaKaren Rolton (SA) – 509Bronwyn Calver (NSW) – 18Karen Rolton (SA)
2002–03VictoriaNew South WalesKaren Rolton (SA) – 468Cathryn Fitzpatrick (VIC) – 17Karen Rolton (SA)
2003–04New South WalesVictoriaBelinda Clark (VIC) – 622Cathryn Fitzpatrick (VIC) – 18Belinda Clark (VIC)
2004–05VictoriaNew South WalesBelinda Clark (VIC) – 397Julie Hayes (NSW) – 19Karen Rolton (SA)
2005–06New South WalesQueenslandKaren Rolton (SA) – 553Emma Liddell (NSW) – 19Karen Rolton (SA)
2006–07New South WalesVictoriaKate Blackwell (NSW) – 363Cathryn Fitzpatrick (VIC) – 25Melissa Bulow (QLD)
2007–08New South WalesSouth AustraliaKaren Rolton (SA) – 384Renee Chappell (WA) – 14Lisa Sthalekar (NSW)
2008–09New South WalesVictoriaKaren Rolton (SA) – 431Erin Osborne (NSW) – 15Alex Blackwell (NSW)
2009–10New South WalesVictoriaKaren Rolton (SA) – 498Ellyse Perry (NSW) – 22Sarah Elliott (VIC)
2010–11New South WalesVictoriaKris Britt (ACT) – 297Ellyse Perry (NSW) – 13Kris Britt (ACT)
2011–12New South WalesVictoriaRachael Haynes (NSW) – 402Lisa Sthalekar (NSW) – 15Poulton, Sthalekar (NSW)
2012–13New South WalesQueenslandMeg Lanning (VIC) – 509Jude Coleman (QLD) – 18Bolton (WA), Lanning (VIC)
2013–14New South WalesVictoriaNicole Bolton (WA) – 371Kristen Beams (VIC) – 14Nicole Bolton (WA)
2014–15New South WalesSouth AustraliaMeg Lanning (VIC) – 440Amanda-Jade Wellington (SA) – 12Jess Jonassen (QLD)
2015–16South AustraliaNew South WalesEllyse Perry (NSW) – 403Megan Schutt (SA) – 14Ellyse Perry (NSW)
2016–17New South WalesQueenslandMeg Lanning (VIC) – 359Molly Strano (VIC) – 13Meg Lanning (VIC)
2017–18New South WalesWestern AustraliaEllyse Perry (NSW) – 372Rene Farrell (NSW) – 16Rachael Haynes (NSW)
2018–19New South WalesQueenslandHeather Graham (WA) – 294Rene Farrell (NSW) – 17Georgia Redmayne (TAS)
2019–20Western AustraliaNew South WalesNicole Bolton (WA) – 436Rene Farrell (NSW) – 21Nicole Bolton (WA)
2020–21QueenslandVictoriaElyse Villani (VIC) – 611Molly Strano (VIC) – 14Elyse Villani (VIC)
2021–22TasmaniaSouth AustraliaCourtney Webb (SA) – 367Samantha Bates (VIC) – 16Erin Osborne (ACT)
2022–23TasmaniaSouth AustraliaElyse Villani (TAS) – 705Sarah Coyte (TAS) – 30Courtney Webb (SA)
2023–24TasmaniaQueenslandNicola Carey (TAS) - 696Grace Parsons (QLD) - 20Nicola Carey (TAS)
2024–25New South WalesQueenslandTahlia Wilson (NSW) - 667Amanda-Jade Wellington (SA) – 29Tahlia Wilson (NSW)

Sources:

Final(s) summaries

1996–2007

From the inaugural season through to 2006–07, the two top-ranked teams on the points table at the conclusion of the regular season would go on to compete in a best-of-three finals series to determine a champion. Dead rubbers were played out in the first two seasons, though such a practice was discontinued thereafter.

SeasonFinal1st Innings2nd InningsResultPlayer of the FinalsVenue
1996–97Match 1
ScorecardVictoria
7/211 (50 overs)New South Wales
7/214 (49.3 overs)New South Wales won by 3 wickets
New South Wales led the series, 1–0Sally Griffiths
(New South Wales)Sydney Cricket Ground
Sydney, NSW
Match 2
ScorecardVictoria
8/161 (50 overs)New South Wales
5/162 (49.1 overs)New South Wales won by 5 wickets
New South Wales led the series, 2–0
Match 3
ScorecardVictoria
7/208 (50 overs)New South Wales
3/210 (44 overs)New South Wales won by 7 wickets
New South Wales won the series, 3–0
1997–98Match 1
ScorecardSouth Australia
8/146 (50 overs)New South Wales
4/147 (42.1 overs)New South Wales won by 6 wickets
New South Wales led the series, 1–0Belinda Clark
(New South Wales)Albert Park
Melbourne, VIC
Match 2
ScorecardSouth Australia
8/214 (50 overs)New South Wales
6/215 (48.3 overs)New South Wales won by 4 wickets
New South Wales led the series, 2–0
Match 3
ScorecardNew South Wales
5/223 (50 overs)South Australia
8/215 (50 overs)New South Wales won by 8 runs
New South Wales won the series, 3–0
1998–99Match 1
ScorecardNew South Wales
6/153 (50 overs)Victoria
146 (48.2 overs)New South Wales won by 7 runs
New South Wales led the series, 1–0Terry McGregor
(New South Wales)Princes Park
Melbourne, VIC
Match 2
ScorecardNew South Wales
114 (45 overs)Victoria
113 (47.3 overs)New South Wales won by 1 run
New South Wales won the series, 2–0
1999–00Match 1
ScorecardNew South Wales
4/154 (30 overs)Western Australia
135 (29.4 overs)New South Wales won by 19 runs
New South Wales led the series, 1–0Terry McGregor
(New South Wales)Sydney Cricket Ground
Sydney, NSW
Match 2
ScorecardWestern Australia
7/218 (50 overs)New South Wales
7/219 (50 overs)New South Wales won by 3 wickets
New South Wales won the series, 2–0
2000–01Match 1
ScorecardNew South Wales
5/234 (50 overs)Queensland
201 (48.3 overs)New South Wales won by 33 runs
New South Wales led the series, 1–0Emma Liddell
(New South Wales)Bankstown Oval
Sydney, NSW
Match 2
ScorecardQueensland
137 (49.3 overs)New South Wales
3/138 (34 overs)New South Wales won by 7 wickets
New South Wales won the series, 2–0
2001–02Match 1
ScorecardVictoria
133 (50 overs)New South Wales
3/134 (42 overs)New South Wales won by 7 wickets
New South Wales led the series, 1–0Lisa Sthalekar
(New South Wales)Bankstown Oval
Sydney, NSW
Match 2
ScorecardVictoria
9/186 (50 overs)New South Wales
6/187 (49.4 overs)New South Wales won by 4 wickets
New South Wales won the series, 2–0
2002–03Match 1
ScorecardNew South Wales
6/200 (50 overs)Victoria
7/203 (50 overs)Victoria won by 3 wickets
Victoria led the series, 1–0Belinda Clark
(Victoria)Melbourne Cricket Ground
Melbourne, VIC
Match 2
ScorecardVictoria
181 (50 overs)New South Wales
141 (47.3 overs)Victoria won by 40 runs
Victoria won the series, 2–0
2003–04Match 1
ScorecardNew South Wales
128 (45.1 overs)Victoria
4/129 (48.3 overs)Victoria won by 6 wickets
Victoria led the series, 1–0Belinda Clark
(Victoria)Melbourne Cricket Ground
Melbourne, VIC
Match 2
ScorecardVictoria
8/162 (50 overs)New South Wales
5/163 (48 overs)New South Wales won by 5 wickets
Series level, 1–1
Match 3
ScorecardVictoria
4/217 (50 overs)New South Wales
7/218 (48.4 overs)New South Wales won by 3 wickets
New South Wales won the series, 2–1
2004–05Match 1
ScorecardNew South Wales
3/200 (50 overs)Victoria
179 (49.1 overs)New South Wales won by 21 runs
New South Wales led the series, 1–0Julie Hayes
(New South Wales)Bankstown Oval
Sydney, NSW
Match 2
ScorecardNew South Wales
71 (43.4 overs)Victoria
5/72 (39.1 overs)Victoria won by 5 wickets
Series level, 1–1
Match 3
ScorecardVictoria
6/159 (50 overs)New South Wales
109 (43.4 overs)Victoria won by 50 runs
Victoria won the series, 2–1
2005–06Match 1
ScorecardQueensland
174 (48 overs)New South Wales
2/175 (37.4 overs)New South Wales won by 8 wickets
New South Wales led the series, 1–0Jude Coleman
(Queensland)North Sydney Oval
Sydney, NSW
Match 2
ScorecardNew South Wales
154 (50 overs)Queensland
7/155 (45.1 overs)Queensland won by 3 wickets
Series level, 1–1
Match 3
ScorecardNew South Wales
146 (48.4 overs)Queensland
144 (47.2 overs)New South Wales won by 2 runs
New South Wales won the series, 2–1
2006–07Match 1
ScorecardVictoria
136 (46.3 overs)New South Wales
9/137 (48.4 overs)New South Wales won by 1 wicket
New South Wales led the series, 1–0Cathryn Fitzpatrick
(Victoria)Central Reserve
Melbourne, VIC
Match 2
ScorecardNew South Wales
144 (49 overs)Victoria
2/146 (43.2 overs)Victoria won by 8 wickets
Series level, 1–1
Match 3
ScorecardVictoria
7/205 (50 overs)New South Wales
7/206 (48.4 overs)New South Wales won by 3 wickets
New South Wales won the series, 2–1

2007–present

Coinciding with the introduction of the Australian Women's Twenty20 Cup, the WNCL finals series was reduced to a single match from 2007–08 onward. However, the 2012–13 and 2014–15 seasons utilised an extended four-team playoffs system which included knockout semi-finals.

Season1st Innings2nd InningsResultPlayer of the FinalVenue
2007–08New South Wales vs. South Australia
Match abandoned due to rainNo result
New South Wales were declared championsN/ASydney Cricket Ground
Sydney, NSW
2008–09Victoria
117 (44.5 overs)New South Wales
4/120 (34.2 overs)New South Wales won by 6 wickets
ScorecardEllyse Perry
(New South Wales)Sydney Cricket Ground
Sydney, NSW
2009–10New South Wales
9/206 (50 overs)Victoria
147 (39.1 overs)New South Wales won by 59 runs
ScorecardErin Osborne
(New South Wales)Melbourne Cricket Ground
Melbourne, VIC
2010–11Victoria
263 (48.5 overs)New South Wales
2/193 (34.1 overs)New South Wales won by 49 runs
ScorecardAlex Blackwell
(New South Wales)Sydney Cricket Ground
Sydney, NSW
2011–12New South Wales
7/310 ( 50 overs)Victoria
240 (41.4 overs)New South Wales won by 70 runs
ScorecardRachael Haynes
(New South Wales)Sydney Cricket Ground
Sydney, NSW
2012–13Queensland
7/232 (50 overs)New South Wales
4/135 (27 overs)New South Wales won by 15 runs
ScorecardJodie Fields
(Queensland)Sydney Cricket Ground
Sydney, NSW
2013–14Victoria
9/111 (20 overs)New South Wales
3/114 (18.5 overs)New South Wales won by 7 wickets
ScorecardRachael Haynes
(New South Wales)North Sydney Oval
Sydney, NSW
2014–15New South Wales
4/279 (50 overs)South Australia
135 (44.5 overs)New South Wales won by 144 runs
ScorecardRachael Haynes
(New South Wales)Blacktown International Sportspark
Sydney, NSW
2015–16South Australia
7/264 (50 overs)New South Wales
210 (46 overs)South Australia won by 54 runs
ScorecardSarah Taylor
(South Australia)Hurstville Oval
Sydney, NSW
2016–17Queensland
119 (41.1 overs)New South Wales
1/123 (24 overs)New South Wales won by 9 wickets
ScorecardRene Farrell
(New South Wales)Allan Border Field
Brisbane, QLD
2017–18New South Wales
6/302 (50 overs)Western Australia
251 (47.2 overs)New South Wales won by 51 runs
ScorecardAlyssa Healy
(New South Wales)Blacktown International Sportspark
Sydney, NSW
2018–19New South Wales
7/259 (50 overs)Queensland
228 (47.2 overs)New South Wales won by 31 runs
ScorecardNicola Carey
(New South Wales)North Sydney Oval
Sydney, NSW
2019–20Western Australia
231 (50 overs)New South Wales
189 (49.5 overs)Western Australia won by 42 runs
ScorecardNicole Bolton
(Western Australia)North Sydney Oval
Sydney, NSW
2020–21Queensland
8/317 (50 overs)Victoria
205 (42.4 overs)Queensland won by 112 runs
ScorecardGeorgia Redmayne
(Queensland)Junction Oval
Melbourne, VIC
2021–22South Australia
8/242 (50 overs)Tasmania
1/245 (47.4 overs)Tasmania won by 9 wickets
ScorecardElyse Villani
(Tasmania)Bellerive Oval
Hobart, TAS
2022–23Tasmania
264 (50 overs)South Australia
241 (47 overs)Tasmania won by 1 run
ScorecardSarah Coyte
(Tasmania)Blundstone Arena
Hobart, TAS
2023–24Queensland
7/248 (50 overs)Tasmania
4/249(47.4 overs)Tasmania won by 6 wickets
ScorecardNicola Carey
(Tasmania)WACA
Perth, WA
2024–25New South Wales
215 (48 overs)Queensland
194 (46.5 overs)New South Wales won by 21 runs
ScorecardAnika Learoyd
(New South Wales)Allan Border Field
Brisbane, QLD

Notes

References

References

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