The sixth season of Women’s Big Bash League is almost on our doorsteps, with the tournament set to kick off from the 25th of October. As earlier announced by Cricket Australia, this elite tournament will feature the full 59-game season, with all the 8 teams facing off on an opening day. WBBL will be hosted entirely in the city of Sydney, and matches will be played across 5 venues. In the build-up to this much-awaited tournament, let’s take a look at the 23 overseas players’ in WBBL06.
Brisbane Heat: Maddy Green, Amelia Kerr, Nadine De Klerk
We start off with the defending champions – Brisbane Heat. Led by Jess Jonassen, Heat has utilized their full quota of 3 overseas players. This includes the New Zealand duo of Maddy Green and Amelia Kerr, along with South Africa’s Nadine de Klerk. The Kiwi duo recently took part in their unforgettable tour of Australia, where they lost 2-1 in the T20I’s and a 3-0 whitewash in the ODI’s.
However, Amelia Kerr had a good time in Australia, with her all-round performance of 2 wickets and a quick-fire 18* in the run-chase, propelling Kiwis to their only win of the tour in the 3rd T20I. Heat will also avail the services of Green, who played her 50th International T20I in the Australian tour and will look to contribute with both bat and ball for Heat. The 20-year old Nadine de Klerk has rapidly become a star in the international scene, ever since her debut against India in 2017. She has 23 wickets and 290 runs to her name in her short career of 23 international matches.
Adelaide Strikers: Suzie Bates, Stafanie Taylor, Laura Wolvaardt
Next, we move on to last season’s runner’s up – Adelaide Strikers. The Strikers will be led by an overseas player and one of the best in the women’s game – Suzie Bates. A modern great of the game, Bates has 4548 runs and 75 wickets in her 125-match ODI career, with a high score of 168 against Pakistan in a World Cup match. Her T20I career has notched up over 3300 runs, along with 50 scalps. She will be absolutely vital to Strikers’ chances in the tournament.
Bates will be joined by West Indies’ captain, Stefanie Taylor, who is one of the most feared all-rounders in the game. Her explosive gameplay resonated throughout the West Indian side, and was crucial in their 2016 World Cup triumph, defeating world champions, Australia in the finals at the iconic Eden Gardens. At just 21 years, Laura Wolvaardt has represented South Africa in 75 international matches and will don the blue of the Strikers. The opening batsman has over 2200 runs in her career and will look to provide impetus at the top of the innings.
Perth Scorchers: Sophie Devine, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones
Semi-finalists Perth Scorchers will be led by the White Ferns captain, Sophie Devine. A prolific name in the international scene, Devine has over 5000 runs in the game, along with 164 wickets to her name. The destructive opening batsman will be looking to lead from the front in this season’s WBBL. She will be joined by the English duo of Sarah Glenn and Amy Jones.
21-year old Glenn has become a star of the women’s game after just 10 months since her international debut. Her 22 wickets in 14 T20I innings, including 7 wickets in England’s recent 5-0 whitewash of West Indies, makes her a vital element for the girls in orange. The wicket-keeper, Amy Jones, will have a key role in the late middle order, with her explosive batting to finish off their innings.
Melbourne Renegades: Lizelle Lee, Amy Satterthwaite, Lea Tahuhu
The other semi-finalists, Melbourne Renegades, will have South African Lizelle Lee in their ranks. Lee will add experience to the Renegades batting, with over 3,700 runs to her name in international cricket. She will be joined by the New Zealand duo of Amy Satterthwaite and Lea Tahuhu. Recently turned mother, Satterthwaite made an excellent return to international cricket, in the series against Australia. She was one of the bright spots in New Zealand’s forgettable tour, scoring 172 runs in the series, and will look to continue her form in Australia.
She will be joined by her wife, Lea Tahuhu at the Renegades. The right-arm quick has over 120 wickets in her career and will be hard to negotiate for the batsmen at the fast and seaming wickets in Sydney.
Sydney Sizers: Marizanne Kapp, Dane Van Niekerk
Next, we have two-time WBBL champions, Sydney Sixers, led by prolific all-rounder, Ellyse Perry. Their overseas contingent includes spouses, Marizanne Kapp and Dane van Niekerk. Two of the most prolific players in South African cricket will lend their expertise to the Sixers and will look to help them lift their 3rd title, in a world-class side consisting of Alyssa Healy and Ashleigh Gardner.
Kapp’s all-round ability will provide solid balance to the Sixers, and has over 2700 runs and 181 wickets in her repertoire. Captain of South Africa, van Niekerk, is one of the best in the women’s game and has over 4000 runs and 194 wickets in the game, including a test wicket.
Sydney Thunders: Tammy Beaumont, Heather Knight, Shabnim Ismail
Sixers’ derby rivals, Thunder, will fill their quota of 3 overseas players, unlike the 2-time champions. Explosive opening batsman, Tammy Beaumont, will be one of the three and will be coming off some stellar performances against West Indies. Beaumont’s 120 runs at the top of the innings, including a 62 in the first T20I, helped the English emerge victorious by a 5-0. She will be joined by an English captain, Heather Knight.
Knight will add experience in Thunder’s middle-order, with over 4400 runs in her international career. She will be the batsman around which the explosive hitters of the Thunder’s will operate. The last overseas spot will be taken by South African quickie, Shabnim Ismail, who leads Thunder’s bowling attack.
Hobart Hurricanes: Hayley Matthews, Rachel Priest, Chloe Tryon
Hayley Matthews from Barbados will don the purple of Hobart Hurricane. The 22-year old is an exciting prospect and will contribute with her all-around abilities for the Hurricanes. New Zealand wicket-keeper, Rachel Priest, will don the gloves for the Hurricanes and will provide stability in the middle order. Having spent over a month in Australia already, Priest will be acclimatized with the conditions down under.
Rounding off their overseas spots is South Africa’s, Chloe Tryon. The all-rounder will provide a good balance, and is known for taking two wickets in her first over of international cricket, back in 2010.
Melbourne Stars: Katherine Brunt, Natalie Sciver, Migon Du Preez
Finishing off our list are the overseas stars of the Melbourne Stars. They will feature the experienced English duo of Katherine Brunt and Natalie Sciver. Sciver is one of the most lethal bowlers in the women’s game, with 110 wickets in her international career. She will be assisted in the bowling department by her compatriot, Brunt, who will be coming off a very good series with bat and ball against the girls from the Caribbean. She took 7 wickets in the recently concluded series, along with some handy contributions with the bat in the lower order.
The last on our list, but certainly not the least, we have South African batsman, Mignon Du Preez. One of the most prolific players in the modern game, Du Preez will provide a solid base in the middle order, and has over 5000 runs in 234 international matches.
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