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AAP
AAP
Ethan James

WBBL 'not equal' with varying video umpiring

Elyse Villani says the WBBL is not an equal competition with the sporadic use of technology. (Jono Searle/AAP PHOTOS)

Hobart Hurricanes skipper Elyse Villani says the WBBL is not an equal competition with inconsistent use of third umpire and decision-review technology.

Poor decisions by on-field officials have been in the spotlight this season, with third umpires and decision-review systems only in place for matches on free-to-air television.

The remaining games, which are streamed on various platforms, solely rely on the on-field call.

Cricket Australia earlier this week said it would look to introduce third-umpire technology for all WBBL games next season. 

It also said the decision review system, introduced last year for the 24 free-to-air games, will be expanded to include an extra 10 matches.

The Hurricanes benefited from a decision in their 24-run win over the Sydney Thunder on Monday. 

Opener Lizelle Lee should have been given out stumped on 12 but wasn't and went on to top score with 91.

Villani said players had been calling for increased use of technology for several years.

"At the end of every season we've been asking the question," she told reporters on Wednesday. 

"This year it has probably been highlighted the most."

In the season opener, Melbourne Stars skipper Meg Lanning was given out caught behind on 12 but the decision was overturned after her challenge showed a gap between bat and ball. 

Lanning went on to score 55 off 34 deliveries in a Melbourne win. 

"For me, having a different amount of televised games in the competition ... it sort of questions the equality of the competition," Villani said. 

"(Meg) reviewed that successfully and she went on and made a really good score.

"If that hadn't been on TV, she would have been given out and the whole game could have changed. 

"There are too many examples there where it is not quite right - the equality across the competition."

Former Australian representative Lisa Sthalekar said there had been "too many wrong decisions" made on streamed games this year. 

"Questions need to be asked: do we have the right standard of umpires officiating? Should whatever technology is available be used to assist?," she asked in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Big Bash boss Alistair Dobson told AAP on Monday the first year of a new media rights agreement would bring further growth in the technology for WBBL games next season.

"We're really optimistic we'll be able to continue to improve and enhance WBBL matches around the use of technology and decision making," he said.

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