When Melbourne Renegades player Kris Britt debuted 17 years ago the best female cricketers were paying to play, but those days are long gone.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The "big bright" franchise-based Women's Big Bash League has turned the country's elite female cricketers into professionals for a stint in summer.
But the best thing about the WBBL? It provides role models for junior female players.
They see their heroes on television and can finally aspire to be there one day, an opportunity once only afforded to males.
"I've played for 17 years and I honestly didn't think in my time that I would see it," Britt said.
"It's definitely something that's great for the younger generation of girls, not just cricketers, but athletes sitting at home and watching it on TV.
"They're seeing all the hype around the bright colours and the fireworks and things like that. It's absolutely massive and it's just such an honour, especially for myself.
"I didn't ever think that I'd get to see this but the product that Cricket Australia have, and the money that the Australian Cricketers Association and Cricket Australia are obviously putting into it, the women's game is just going to get better and better.
"It's just fantastic for the younger girls to have role models and to see them all the time."
It was common to hear WBBL players say they were finally "real cricketers" as they went professional for two months last season.
New South Wales has already announced the entire Breakers squad can now become full-time cricketers, and Britt says other state-based teams need to seriously consider following suit – although she won't be there to see it.
Britt put away the ACT Meteors uniform and is now exclusive to the WBBL.
"WBBL is something I want to be a part of for as long as possible as a player," Britt said.
"The Renegades is something that I want to be a part of for a long time. It's not the end for me. The WBBL is a seven or eight-week tournament and it's something that really fits with me in my career and away from the game.
"It's just very hard to juggle when you're only semi-professional at WNCL level, where seven-eight weeks, you can definitely work around that.
"The Melbourne Renegades is something for me long term and something that I want to be playing in long term."
After a disappointing last-placed finish in WBBL|01, changes were afoot at the Renegades.
They have come in the form of "seven or eight young kids" joining the squad – a group featuring boom Meteors rookie Maitlan Brown.
Britt and Brown are joined by ACT teammate Nicole Goodwin, and the Melbourne derby will have a Canberra feel when the trio come up against Meteors pairing Katie Mack and Lily Bardsley.
In the other cross-town derby, reigning champions Sydney Thunder feature Erin Osborne, Sam Bates and Claire Koski.
Throw in Jodie Hicks, Emily Leys, Sara McGlashan and Angela Reakes for the Sydney Sixers, and there is a distinct tone of blue and gold in the lime green-magenta rivalry.
WOMEN'S BIG BASH LEAGUE
Saturday: Perth Scorchers v Hobart Hurricanes at North Sydney Oval. 10am.
Adelaide Strikers v Melbourne Renegades at North Sydney Oval, 1:45pm. TV time: Live on Channel Ten.
Sydney Thunder v Melbourne Stars at North Sydney Oval, 6:15pm. TV time: Live on Channel Ten.
