Ellyse Perry named captain of WBBL Team of the Decade, TV viewership increases despite shorter season

Cricket Australia believes the move to a shorter WBBL has been proven correct, with more viewers and almost as many spectators despite a significant drop in the number of games.

Officials on Thursday unveiled their WBBL team of the decade, with nine Australians in the XI and Ellyse Perry named captain.

The biggest surprise selection belonged to Amanda-Jade Wellington, who has been judged the best spinner in the WBBL while having limited Australian opportunities.

Thunder one game away from WBBL final Photo shows Sydney Thunder batter Phoebe Litchfield walks off the field during a WBBL match as fire goes off behind her. With her team in need of a captain's knock, 21-year-old Phoebe Litchfield plays a composed 46 off 36 to lead the Sydney Thunder into a showdown with the Brisbane Heat.

This summer has represented the biggest change to the WBBL in its 10-year history, with a reduction from 14 games to 10.

The move had initially been pushed for last summer in line with the shorter men's season, but was met with some opposition over a drop in opportunities for domestic players.

But it was a commercial success with a higher percentage of games on week nights and far less day-time mid-week fixtures.

CA data shows regular-season crowds have increased to an average of 1,750 per game, with the 23 per cent bump in line with the jump in men's crowds last summer for their reduced competition.

TV numbers have also increased by 46 per cent, with more total viewers despite 16 less games.

Sunday's clash between Brisbane and the Sydney Sixers was the most watched WBBL game in five years, after retaining the audience from the Perth Test.

"When we were assessing the option of a different looking season structure, the numbers we were looking at were increased attendances and TV audiences," BBL boss Alistair Dobson told AAP.

"And that's the way it's played out.

"It's a combination of creating scarcity, but it's also allowing us to put the right games in the right timeslots, a higher proportion of prime-time games.

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"And then being able to have the best games in the right stadiums at the right part of the season. All those things have played out as we hoped."

Bigger questions do still remain.

Crowds for the eight stadium games did not increase significantly on last year's numbers, but are expected to remain as part of next summer's fixture.

A challenge also awaits for Sunday's final at the MCG, where only 5,589 fans turned out for a derby between the Melbourne Renegades and Stars this summer.

The ICC's future tour program also means the tournament is also now locked into the November window for the next four years, after player debate over whether this was the right time for it.

"There are always ups and downs in that assessment (of if it's the right window)," Dobson said.

"There is a lot of other cricket that happens in and around this window.

"But to be able to have prime time WBBL every night of the week is a pretty powerful opportunity for us. Other windows may not allow that."

WBBL Team of the Decade

Beth Mooney, Alyssa Healy, Meg Lanning, Ellyse Perry (captain), Sophie Devine, Grace Harris, Jess Jonassen, Marizanne Kapp, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Sarah Aley, Megan Schutt. 12th: Molly Strano

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