Sports · Cricket · 12 hrs ago
Charli Knott makes first WBBL century by a player yet to debut internationally
Brisbane Heat opener Charli Knott scored a century against the Adelaide Strikers in the 2026/27 Women’s Big Bash League season.
At 23, Knott became the first WBBL centurion yet to make her international debut.
The WBBL began in 2015 as the first professional franchise tournament of its kind in women’s cricket.
Mel Jones said Knott’s achievement reflects a system building players for the next level.
The league has grown alongside the expansion of women’s professional cricket and the launch of other major competitions, including The Hundred and India’s Women’s Premier League.
After 16 games this season, the average first-innings score was just over 161.6, up from 126 in the inaugural season.
The WBBL’s rising run rates and scores point to continued growth, though the sources do not say what comes next for Knott.
Brisbane Heat opener Charli Knott made a century against the Adelaide Strikers in the first week of the 2026/27 Women’s Big Bash League season.
It was the first WBBL hundred by a player who had not made an international debut.
The 23-year-old’s century came after years of development in the competition.
Former player Mel Jones said the milestone showed how the WBBL was helping prepare players for higher levels.
The article also reported higher scoring rates and first-innings averages than in the league’s early seasons.
- Who
- Charli Knott, a Brisbane Heat opener.
- What
- She scored a century against the Adelaide Strikers, the first WBBL hundred by a player yet to make an international debut.
- When
- The first week of the 2026/27 WBBL season.
- Where
- In a match against the Adelaide Strikers; the venue is not stated.
- Why
- The sources describe the century as a milestone reflecting the development of the WBBL and its players.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The WBBL began as the first tournament of its kind.
The Hundred joined the major women’s T20 competitions, according to the article.
The inaugural Women’s Premier League began in India.
Charli Knott scored her century against the Adelaide Strikers.
- Player
- Charli Knott
- Team
- Brisbane Heat
- Age
- 23
- Milestone
- First WBBL hundred by a player yet to make an international debut
- Season
- 2026/27 WBBL
1 source
What people are saying
The first hundred by a player that’s not on the Australian team - there’s another indication of how the system is building robust players, getting them ready for the next level
I look at Charli Knott – she was contracted at 15, and she’s the third-youngest to hit a hundred.