WBBL 10: England Players to Miss Playoff Week Due to South Africa Tour
Author: Vishnu Reddy
Updated At:
England players are set to miss the final stages of the WBBL due to a scheduling clash with their tour of South Africa. The ECB has informed players that, if selected, they must prioritize international duty, with the T20 squad expected in South Africa by November 17 and the ODI squad by November 27. This decision mirrors a similar situation earlier this year when the WPL overlapped with England Women’s series in New Zealand.
England players and their agents were made aware of this requirement prior to entering the WBBL draft. Despite the overlap, seven English players were signed in the draft, including stars like Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Sophie Ecclestone, and Heather Knight at the platinum level.
The WBBL, which starts on October 27, will still see 11 regular-season matches remaining from November 17, leading up to the knockout stages. England’s first T20I against South Africa is scheduled for November 24, followed by three ODIs starting December 4 and a Test on December 15. You can bet on cricket matches, including these WBBL games and England's tour of South Africa on the best cricket betting sites.
The ECB faced a similar issue during last year’s WBBL, when players like Bess Heath and Danielle Gibson missed the final to join England’s squad for a T20I series against India. With the Women’s Future Tours Program (FTP) set to conclude in 2025, ECB’s Director of England Women’s Cricket, Jonathan Finch, is hopeful that scheduling conflicts can be avoided in the future.
Player Workload Management Crucial for Women's Cricket
Finch emphasized the importance of clearer dates for tournaments like the WBBL and WPL to avoid conflicts. He also acknowledged the challenge of balancing national duty with the lucrative opportunities that leagues like the WPL provide for players, particularly as some athletes can earn life-changing sums.
The ECB is also in discussions with the England Women’s Player Partnership about introducing multi-year central contracts to offer players more security. Finch reiterated the need to manage player workloads carefully, ensuring adequate rest between tournaments and international commitments.
The goal, Finch added, is to have a future where England players can participate in major tournaments without having to worry about overlapping international obligations. However, he acknowledged that case-by-case discussions with players will still be necessary in some instances.
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