The fourth season of Women’s Big Bash League will begin on 1st December and all eyes will be on the league till mid January. There will be some stars from around the globe along with some amazing domestic talents of Australia. Sydney Sixers will start as favourite and will try to defend the title at any cost. The other teams will be hopeful to clinch the win this time especially the ones who have signed a few new players. With so many talents and legendary player participating in the tournament it is tough to name a few. Based on the current form, recently concluded tournaments and the last stint with the previous WBBL seasons a list of five players has been predicted who can be explosive during the fourth season of WBBL.
Ashleigh Gardner
Ashleigh Gardner has become a permanent one down option for Australia Cricket team. The all rounder provides Australia great support with her striking batting and handy off spin bowling. She plays for Sydney Strikers in Women’s Big Bash league and one of the biggest reasons why Sydney Strikers is unstoppable in WBBL. She bats at a strike rate close to 137.
Gardner’s all round performance helped Australia to seal their 4th victory in World T20,2018. Ended with amazing figure of 3 for 22 in just 4 over, Gardner contributed 33 runs off just 26 runs and led the team to victory. Her current form will certainly continue in the Women’s Big Bash as WBBL has become a comfort zone for her. She has always been one of the key players for Sydney Strikers. In the last season she smashed 114 off 52 balls to take her team to 242 which is the highest total in any Women’s T20 domestic match in Australia. In the last two seasons Gardner scored 761 runs in 30 innings that includes total 34 sixes of which she hit 21 in the last season. Sydney Strikers will be all set to defend their title with this in form and consistent batter of the team.
Alyssa Healy
This right handed wicket keeper batter of Australia has been a key player for Sydney Sixers in Women’s Big Bash League. This famous surname holder is the niece of Ian Healy had the world record of the highest number of test dismissals. She has one more cricketer in her family i.e her husband, Australia star Mitchell Starc.
Healy always showed her class in the Big Bash for Sydney Sixers and played many match winning innings in the last two seasons. The champion of last two seasons had this dependant bat always contributed in the finals. Her blistering innings of 106 runs off 66 balls against Adelaide Strikers to secure Sixers’ position in top two in still one of the best in the WBBL. Her current form will be an asset for Sixers this season as well. Alyssa Healy scored 225 runs at an average of 56.25, including two 50s with an astounding 160 plus strike rate in World T20. Undoubtedly Alyssa Healy will be one of the best bets for Sydney Sixers to defend the Big Bash title for the third time.
Smriti Mandhana
Smriti Mandhana has become an important member of the Indian Eves over the years. Her consistency made her one of the first two Indian players to be featured in the Women’s Big Bash League when she was signed by Brisbane Heat. She has been picked up Hobart Hurricanes for the fourth season. The second season of WBBL was a failure for Smriti as she was ruled out of the tournament due to an injury. She could contribute 89 runs in 10 innings in that season.
She is known for her explosive batting and has finished the recently concluded World T20 as the third highest run getter with 178 runs in five innings. Her innings of 83 runs off 55 balls against Australia made Australia lose the only match in the tournament. Smriti Mandhana is having a tremendous year in Twenty20. She became the first Indian player to be signed by any Kia Super League teams and was named player of the tournament. In 10 matches Mandhana scored 421 runs at an average of 60.14 for Western Storm, ending the tournament as the highest run-getter. Mandhana will be all set for her comeback in the WBBL fourth season and can be expected to play some match winning innings for Brisbane Heat.
Sophie Divine
Sophie Divine of New Zealand is one of the finest T20 players in the world. She is one of the most dependant players of Adelaide Strikers who consistently contributed in last two seasons of WBBL. She had the fastest half century hitter of just 18 balls in international T20 until India’s Smriti Mandhana joined her to score 50 off 18 balls in Kia Super League this year. Interestingly Sophie had scored the 50 against India in 2015.
The all rounder was second highest scorer for Adelaide Strikers in last season with 355 runs in 15 innings at a strike rate of 117.55. She showed her class and experience to win an incredible super over victory against Sydney Thunder. Her innings of 70 runs off 45 balls against Sydney Sixers, the eventual winners was a stunner. Sophie had a decent World T20. She had her bowling moments and scored a great half century against Ireland off just 21 balls. The White Fern will certainly look forward to the Women’s Big Bash League given her great past experience with the league.
Tayla Vlaeminck
Tayla Vlaeminck is an Australian player picked by Melbourne Renegades for the fourth season of Women’s Big Bash League. This 20years old missed last two seasons of WBBL. She was all set for her debut in the second season for Renegades but failed to play single match due to her ACL injury.
It is interesting that this fast bowler already debuted for Australian cricket team and yet to play one Big Bash match. Her T20 debut match was against India in the last ICC World T20 tournament. She made her presence feel in that very single match when she ended Veda Krishnamurthy’s innings for 3 runs with a stunner. She also debuted for Australian in ODI against Pakistan just before the T20 World Cup. Tayla Vlaeminck is one of the fastest in the WBBL and can easily past the 120km /hr barrier in the tournament. She will be charged up to make debut in WBBL after last two failed attempts and hence we can expect some brilliant showcase by her.