Southern Smash 2024: New women’s competition and extra under-21s games highlight new tournament changes

A new-look Southern Smash is embracing big changes ahead of the 2024 competition with the introduction of women’s matches and the extension of under-21s games. The region’s affiliate women’s side the Southern Scorpions will take on Bunbury and Districts Cricket Association’s women’s outfit in a move to help grow the game in the Great Southern. The under-21s will also play an extra game over the weekend as the Smash, regional WA’s premiers T20 competition, reduces from six teams down to four to help facilitate the new changes. Reigning premiers Elders Avengers and three-time winners and powerhouses Inswing Ignition will not return for the 2024 Smash tournament. Smash organising committee member Ryan Kinnear said the move was exciting for the growth of women’s sport in the region. “The decision was based on growing the game locally and that’ll give our girls a bit of a platform heading into country week,” he said. “We want to try and give the women’s game a bit more exposure, so we can try and establish a competition in the Great Southern. “The Southern Scorpions don’t really have any competitions to play in until country week.” Previously, the under-21s matches were played under lights, but Kinnear said their matches will now be played throughout the day, with a final play-off game. “It’s probably a good time to have a decider in those matches, and all three matches would play during the day,” Kinnear said. “The night matches haven’t worked as well as we thought.” The under-21s competition, which is only available to regional-based players, will still launch the Smash with a curtain raiser game on Saturday, December 28. The sixth edition of the Smash will run from December 28-30 with the tournament proper held over the final two days. Registration’s are now open and close on November 15.