North Sydney Oval WBBL|12 2026: Fixtures, Ground Guide and Women’s Cricket Records

North Sydney Oval is a cricket and multi-sport venue in the south-west corner of St Leonards Park, at the Miller Street and Ridge Street intersection. Its official visitor address is 2 Fig Tree Lane, North Sydney NSW 2060. For WBBL|12, the current Cricket Australia schedule lists six regular-season matches here, including the Sydney Sixers v Sydney Thunder derby on 8 November and further fixtures through 26 November. 1 4 8 9

The ground combines a long cricket history with modern dual-purpose infrastructure: Council dates the first cricket pitch to 6 December 1867, while later works introduced a portable drop-in wicket, upgraded irrigation, improved lighting, practice facilities and player, media and spectator services. The six scheduled WBBL|12 assignments are regular-season matches only. The 43-game season runs across 38 days, with 40 regular-season games and three finals slots that depend on standings, so no final is assigned to North Sydney Oval in this guide. 2 3 8

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Photo credit: North Sydney Oval, 2022-08-27. Creator: Avatar5991; source-revision crop by 4TheWynne. Source: 20. Licence: 21, CC BY-SA 4.0. Full retrieved source framing retained; EXIF orientation normalized if present, downscaled and re-encoded to WebP. AFL Women’s scene, not WBBL. This is an archival image, not evidence of the 2026 pitch, boundary ropes, seating or configuration; no additional crop was made.

Key Takeaways - North Sydney Oval’s first cricket pitch is dated 6 December 1867, and Council records major redevelopment and upgrade phases from 1929 through 2022. 2 - The often-quoted 20,000 figure is an approximate whole-ground/event estimate. The cited profile describes about 9,000 seated and the remainder on grass banking, not 20,000 permanent seats. 16 - The venue has a grass pitch and a portable/drop-in wicket, plus floodlights, practice nets, changing and medical rooms, media facilities, CCTV, a screen and public-address equipment. 2 3 - Six WBBL\|12 regular-season fixtures are scheduled for 2026. Finals remain conditional and are not allocated to this ground. 9 - The women’s figures in this guide come from three checked WBBL scorecards between 18 November 2022 and 13 November 2025. They are a selected sample, not all-time venue records. 17 18 19

North Sydney Oval quick facts

For the broader competition context, the WBBL overview explains the tournament, while the WBBL schedule is the better place to compare dates across venues.

History and development

North Sydney Oval’s cricket story starts with the first pitch recorded on 6 December 1867. Council’s chronology then identifies a first pavilion in 1879, its replacement by the Duncan Thompson Stand in 1929, a major renovation in 1931 and a 1935 project that replaced a timber fence with a high brick wall and added a 1,200-seat concrete terrace. These historic seating and terrace figures describe past works, not a current spectator inventory. 2

The late 1980s brought drainage, irrigation and pitch relaying, followed by a Ground of the Year award in 1992. A later upgrade program began in November 2015 and continued through 2022. The 2016 phase introduced a portable drop-in cricket wicket, new irrigation lines and improved lighting. In 2018, Duncan Thompson Stand works added changing rooms, medical rooms and anti-doping facilities. Practice-net upgrades followed in 2019, while 2020 works covered player and official areas, media facilities, a screen, public address, CCTV and drainage. The 2022 phase included corporate-facility improvements, stand restoration and refurbishment, and a seating review. 2 3

That chronology matters when reading modern capacity claims. The current public Council pages checked for this guide do not certify a fixed cricket seating capacity. The third-party estimate of 20,000 is best understood as a whole-ground or event figure, with about 9,000 seated and the rest on grass banking, rather than as 20,000 permanent seats. 1 16

Dimensions, surface, facilities and lights

Exact current boundary lengths, square dimensions and a current spectator-seating map were not verified. That leaves the responsible answer to a North Sydney Oval dimensions question as “not verified”, rather than a generic oval measurement presented as a venue fact. 1 2 16

The playing surface is described as grass, with a portable or drop-in wicket that can be moved aside while the oval serves football and returned for summer cricket. Council says the drop-in pitches were intended to improve consistency and playability. The venue’s cricket support includes practice nets and training pitches, and Council records that St Leonards Park cricket practice nets were upgraded in December 2019. 3 2

For match operations, the verified facility list includes floodlights, changing and medical rooms, anti-doping facilities, press and media facilities, CCTV, an outdoor video screen and public-address improvements. Council also records bar, kiosk and merchandising improvements. A current count of toilets, family rooms, accessibility seating or a match-day menu was not verified, so those details should be checked with the event operator rather than assumed. 2 5

Pitch evidence and current limits

The strongest direct pitch evidence is the Council description of the drop-in wicket and its seasonal relocation. It supports a statement about the ground’s wicket system and intended playability, but it does not provide a current match-day pitch report. The checked scorecards show that women’s T20 matches here can include substantial totals and tight finishes, but scorecards alone cannot establish pace, bounce, carry, seam movement, spin or grip. 3 17 18 19

Across the three checked women-only WBBL matches, the innings totals were 178/6, 160/7, 165/8, 163/9, 152/9 and 154/4. The sample includes an 18-run result, a two-run result and a successful chase completed in 16.5 overs. That is useful context for the range of completed matches, not evidence of a permanent venue bias or a fixed toss advantage. 17 18 19

For a match preview, the sensible tactical questions are whether the inspected strip looks consistent after its football-season use, how the new ball behaves on that day, and whether the captain values scoreboard pressure or a chase. Dew and toss effects remain unverified here. They should not be written as settled North Sydney Oval characteristics without a contemporaneous inspection and match-day evidence.

Women’s cricket history at the ground

The checked women’s evidence is a deliberately narrow sample of three completed WBBL matches, dated 18 November 2022, 19 October 2023 and 13 November 2025. It is not an exhaustive database of women’s cricket at North Sydney Oval, and it should not be used to claim an all-time ground record. 17 18 19

On 18 November 2022, Sydney Sixers Women made 178/6 from 20 overs and Sydney Thunder Women replied with 160/7 from 20, giving the Sixers an 18-run win. Ashleigh Gardner made 85 from 48 balls and also took 1/28, while Samantha Bates took 3/21 for Thunder. 17

On 19 October 2023, Melbourne Stars Women scored 165/8 from 20 overs and Sydney Sixers Women finished on 163/9. The Stars won by two runs. Gardner made 72 from 44, and Annabel Sutherland took 4/27 and was Player of the Match. 18

On 13 November 2025, the Sixers made 152/9 from 20 overs before Hobart Hurricanes Women chased 154/4 in 16.5 overs, winning by six wickets with 19 balls remaining. Lizelle Lee made 55 from 33, and Hayley Silver-Holmes took 3/18 and was Player of the Match. 19

Scoped ground records and evidence

The table below keeps the scope visible. “Checked sample” means the value was identified in the three scorecards above, not that it is a venue-wide or all-time record. The sample contains six completed innings, with two batting-first wins and one successful chase. 17 18 19

WBBL\|12 schedule at North Sydney Oval

Cricket Australia’s current fixture snapshot lists six regular-season assignments at North Sydney Oval. The local times below are AEDT, with the supplied UTC and IST conversions retained exactly. The 8 November and 26 November dates are double-header dates. No final is assigned to this venue. 8 9

The schedule brings Sydney, Perth, Melbourne and Adelaide teams to this Sydney venue. Hobart appears in the checked historical sample, while the current North Sydney Oval WBBL|12 fixture list does not assign a Hobart match here. For table-wide competition context, the WBBL venues directory and WBBL teams guide provide the natural next stops.

Team and tactical context

Council event and venue listings identify Sydney Sixers fixtures at North Sydney Oval, including the 8 November Sydney Smash. That supports describing the ground as a Sixers-linked Sydney venue, but it does not support a venue-specific Sixers win percentage or an exclusive home-ground claim. 1 7

The double-headers make scheduling part of the match-day context. Day-night capability is documented, and the drop-in system means the actual inspected strip matters more than a generic label for the oval. The three-scorecard sample includes two batting-first wins and one successful chase, so teams can use those outcomes as a prompt to discuss choices without treating them as a predictive ground trend. 2 3 17 18 19

Cricket Australia’s season-level broadcast statement says every WBBL|12 match is on Kayo and Foxtel, while 20 regular-season matches and every final are live and free on Seven and 7plus. It does not identify a North Sydney-specific free-to-air assignment for each of the six rows above, so viewers should check the current listing for the individual match. 8

Weather and historical climate boundary

No match-specific November 2026 forecast, current weather observation or actual wicket inspection was verified in the bounded research pass. This section is therefore not a forecast. It also does not insert historical climate averages as if they described a particular match day. Rain, temperature, humidity and dew should be checked from a dated official forecast close to the fixture, while pitch comments should wait for the relevant inspection.

Visitor, tickets and access

The official visitor address is 2 Fig Tree Lane, North Sydney NSW 2060. Council lists North Sydney station as approximately a 1 km walk, Victoria Cross metro as a five-minute walk, and buses 202, 203, 207, 208 and 209 along Miller Street. Transport conditions can change, so match-day journey planning should be rechecked. 4

Council’s parking guidance covers metered Miller Street and Ridge Street spaces, timed Carlow Street parking and the Ridge Street car park. It also links an accessible-parking map. Event clearways, road closures, signs, payment conditions and accessible arrangements can change, so the general parking page is not a guarantee of a particular space on match day. 4 6

The 8 November Council event page describes food and beverage offerings, live entertainment and a festival atmosphere, and links to ticketing. When checked, it displayed Adults $20, Concession $12 and Junior $5.60. Those were time-sensitive displayed prices, not a promise of current availability or final inventory, so confirm the live ticket page before travelling. 7

The conditions of entry say bags and possessions may be searched. They restrict alcohol, glass, sharp knives, firearms and weapons, fireworks, animals other than service animals, pointy-leg camping chairs, stadium horns or loudhailers and certain professional recording equipment. The venue is non-smoking, including vaping, subject to the stated private camera and phone conditions. 5

Council’s public information does not verify a current toilet, family-room, accessibility-seating or match-day menu inventory. Check the event operator’s latest instructions for those details, and use the WBBL news page for competition updates rather than assuming that general venue facilities are unchanged.

Frequently asked questions

What is the official address of North Sydney Oval?

The official visitor and event address is 2 Fig Tree Lane, North Sydney NSW 2060. 4 7

How many WBBL\|12 matches are confirmed at North Sydney Oval?

Six regular-season assignments are listed in the current Cricket Australia fixture snapshot. No final is assigned to North Sydney Oval, because the three finals slots depend on the final standings and hosting conditions. 8 9

Is North Sydney Oval’s capacity 20,000 seats?

No. The cited 20,000 figure is an approximate whole-ground or event estimate. The same profile describes about 9,000 seated, with the remainder on grass banking. A current fixed cricket seating count was not verified. 16

When was cricket first played at North Sydney Oval?

North Sydney Council dates the first cricket pitch to 6 December 1867. That is the Council’s cricket-pitch milestone, distinct from later pavilion, stand and redevelopment dates. 2

Does North Sydney Oval have floodlights and a drop-in wicket?

Yes. Council records improved lighting that enabled day-night games and describes a portable or drop-in wicket introduced in the modern upgrade sequence. The wicket is moved aside for football and returned for summer cricket. 2 3

What are the strongest women’s scores and bowling figures at the ground?

In the checked three-match WBBL sample, the highest innings is Sydney Sixers Women’s 178/6 on 18 November 2022, the highest individual score is Ashleigh Gardner’s 85, and the best bowling figures are Annabel Sutherland’s 4/27 on 19 October 2023. These are sample values, not all-time venue records. 17 18

How do fans reach North Sydney Oval?

Council lists North Sydney station at approximately a 1 km walk, Victoria Cross metro at a five-minute walk and buses 202, 203, 207, 208 and 209 along Miller Street. It also lists local parking options and an accessible-parking map, but event restrictions and clearways can change. 4 6

Conclusion

North Sydney Oval is a venue where an 1867 cricket milestone sits alongside a modern drop-in wicket, day-night capability and facilities shaped by football, cricket and other events. Its WBBL|12 profile is clear for the regular season: six scheduled matches, including two double-header dates, with no final allocated in the current venue assignment. 2 8 9

The useful limits are just as important as the headline facts. The 20,000 number is not 20,000 permanent seats, the women’s figures are from a selected n=3 scorecard sample, exact dimensions are unverified, and neither a November forecast nor a match-day wicket inspection was available in this pass. Recheck the official fixture, ticket, transport and entry information before attending.