WBBL 2026 opens with a double-header in Melbourne on Thursday 29 October, and Cricket Australia says there will be home matches in every state in opening week. Five matches are played between 29 and 31 October, including the first WBBL game under lights at Junction Oval and a Halloween double-header. Here is what to know about each, with IST times and the Season Fantasy angle.
Match 1: Melbourne Renegades v Sydney Thunder
The afternoon game at Junction Oval, 10:10am IST on Thursday 29 October. For the Renegades it is the first match back for Hayley Matthews (10 Cr), who missed the whole of WBBL|11 after shoulder surgery, alongside Deandra Dottin and last season's Player of the Tournament Georgia Wareham (both 9 Cr). Sydney Thunder arrive with captain Phoebe Litchfield (9.5 Cr), Heather Knight (8.5 Cr) and two fresh signings, Nicola Hancock and Jemma Barsby (both 7 Cr).
Fantasy angle: the Renegades also play two days later in Perth, so their players get two games in three days. The Australian internationals on both sides finish their home series on 22 October, a week before this match.
Match 2: Melbourne Stars v Hobart Hurricanes
The first WBBL game under lights at Junction Oval, 1:40pm IST. The reigning champions open their defence away from home: Hobart's first home game is not until 4 November. The Stars bring last season's Golden Bat winner Meg Lanning (9.5 Cr, 430 runs at 53.75) and captain Annabel Sutherland (9.5 Cr). The Hurricanes have Danni Wyatt-Hodge (9.5 Cr), who made 432 runs last season, and Lizelle Lee (8.5 Cr), who holds the WBBL high score of 150 not out.
Fantasy angle: the Stars have only 9 players confirmed, so this is the first look at how they use a thin squad.
Match 3: Brisbane Heat v Sydney Sixers
Friday 30 October at Allan Border Field, 1:40pm IST. Brisbane finished last season with no wins, and they start with Sarah Glenn and Orla Prendergast (both 8.5 Cr) plus Jess Jonassen (8.5 Cr) and Grace Harris (9 Cr). The Sixers bring Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner (both 10 Cr), overseas all-rounders Alice Capsey (9 Cr) and Amelia Kerr (8.5 Cr), and Sophia Dunkley (8.5 Cr).
Fantasy angle: watch the keeper situation. Georgia Redmayne was injured this week and the Heat have given no timeline, and Mikayla Wrigley (6.5 Cr) is the other keeper on the Heat list.
Match 4: Adelaide Strikers v Melbourne Stars
The Halloween opener at Karen Rolton Oval, 10:10am IST on Saturday 31 October. The Strikers have Laura Wolvaardt (9.5 Cr), Sophie Ecclestone (9 Cr) and new opener Emma de Broughe (7 Cr), but Darcie Brown has a back disc injury that could keep her out for up to 10 weeks. The Stars play their second game in three days.
Fantasy angle: a quick turnaround for the Stars can mean rotation, so wait for the toss before committing a captain from that side.
Match 5: Perth Scorchers v Melbourne Renegades
Halloween night at the WACA Ground, 1:40pm IST. It is Perth's first match and the start of Fatima Sana's eight-game window. The Scorchers have Beth Mooney (10.5 Cr), Sophie Devine (9.5 Cr), Sana (9 Cr) and Freya Kemp (9 Cr), against a Renegades side playing in Perth two days after a game in Melbourne.
Fantasy angle: if you want Sana, this is where her three-week rental starts. Her window runs through 21 November on the current schedule.
Opening Week Strategy
- Stars and Renegades play twice in this window, every other team once. That gives their players an early points advantage.
- Check the squad update before locking, Perth, Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades still have the most open list spots.
- Season Fantasy teams lock at each match start time, so make your changes before the first ball of your first match.
- You have 150 transfers for the whole tournament, so a slightly imperfect first team is not a problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is the first WBBL 2026 match in India?
10:10am IST on Thursday 29 October 2026, Melbourne Renegades v Sydney Thunder at Junction Oval.
How many matches are played in WBBL 2026 opening week?
Five matches from 29 to 31 October: a double-header in Melbourne on 29 October, a Heat v Sixers game on 30 October and a Halloween double-header on 31 October.
Who plays twice in the first three days?
Melbourne Stars (29 and 31 October) and Melbourne Renegades (29 and 31 October).
Is Fatima Sana playing in the opening week?
Yes. Perth's first match is on 31 October and Sana is available for their first eight games.
Is Hayley Matthews playing the opening match?
She is in the Renegades squad for WBBL 2026 after missing last season with a shoulder injury. Her first appearance will be confirmed at the toss on 29 October.
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