Sydney Sixers is one of the eight teams that will feature in the seventh edition of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL). The WBBL starts from October 14. Sydney Sixers have a strong squad of 15, out of which two are overseas players, including the Indian duo of Shafali Verma and Radha Yadav.
Squad: Ellyse Perry (captain), Jade Allen, Nicole Bolton, Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns, Stella Campbell, Lauren Cheatle, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Emma Hughes, Matilda Lugg, Angela Reakes Claire Moore, Shafali Verma, Radha Yadav
Squad analysis
Ellyse Perry:
She is one of the best all-rounders in the history of women’s cricket. She will lead the team, which finished fifth last season. She has regained her lost touch with both bat and ball towards the end of the India-Australia series. With over 100 T20Is to her name, over 1000 T20Is runs and more than 100 T20I wickets, she has wealth of experience.
Jade Allen:
The young leg spinner plays her domestic cricket for New South Wales. She is considered to be an exciting prodigious talent.
Nicole Bolton:
She has made her way into the Sixers’ squad from Perth Scorchers. The right arm off spinner may be asked to bowl during the powerplay. Her role would be crucial. She is an opening left hand bat and has played international cricket for Australia between 2014 and 2019. She has featured in 55 international matches.
Maitlan Brown:
She was with Melbourne Renegades before. With the South African right arm seamer Marizanne Kapp not in the squad, Brown will be expected to compensate for the loss. She was named in the Australian squad but has not yet made her international debut.
Erin Burns:
She is a right hand bat and right arm off spinner. She has played international cricket for Australia. She has played six international fixtures and has a score of 30 not out in the only innings that she has played. She is likely to miss at least the Tasmania leg for personal reasons.
Stella Campbelle:
She is tall, she is quick and can hit the deck hard. She has lethal bouncers in her armoury which can give any batter run for her money. She recently made her debut for Australia in the multi-format series against India.
Lauren Cheatle:
The left-arm quick has played ODI and T20I cricket for Australia. She has featured in 11 international matches and picked up 7 international wickets.
Ashleigh Gardner:
The attacking right hand bat and a wicket-taking right arm off spinner, she has grown to be a genuine all-rounder. She is an asset to any team and has the ability to win matches with both bat and ball. She is one of the best all-rounders in the Australian side.
Alyssa Healy:
The swashbuckling opening bat of Australia is a devastating right hand bat. She is the world number 6 T20I batter in women’s cricket. With an experience of over 100T20Is, she is a genuine match winner. She has 2129 T20I runs, including a dozen half centuries and a century. Her wicket-keeping skills are immaculate too.
Emma Hughes:
She was a part of the Sixers last season, during which she made her WBBL debut. She featured in a couple of matches last year. The right hand bat and right arm seamer had a 2 not out and 1-12 in one of the matches that she played against Adelaide Strikers last season.
Matilda Lugg:
Idolising Alyssa Healy, this wicket-keeper bat, who plays for Australian Capital Territory at the domestic level, will get a chance to rub shoulders with her idol in the Sixers’ dressing room. This right hand bat will play her first WBBL season.
Angela Reakes:
She is a seasoned campaigner in WBBL settings. She has featured in 74 matches, scored 517 runs in 53 innings and picked up five wickets in 20 innings. The right hand bat and right arm leg spinner has been with the Sixers since season one. She plays her domestic cricket for New South Wales.
Claire Moore:
She will be featuring in her first WBBL season. She is a right hand bat, who plays her domestic cricket for New South Wales. She is a middle order bat.
Shafali Verma:
She is the world number 2 T20I batter in women’s cricket. India’s dashing opening bat is an aggressive player and can hit boundaries at will. She had a prolific outing in the World T20 that was played last year in Australia. She is likely to open the batting with Alyssa Healy.
Radha Yadav:
The left arm spinner is a T20I specialist. Apart from her bowling, she is an excellent fielder and more than handy with the bat lower down the order. The Indian all-rounder has been a part of the T20I squad since 2018. She has 52 wickets in 40 T20Is.
I am a former cricketer having represented Mumbai University at All India University level. I was a part of MCA probables for the U-19 and U-23 age group. I have been an avid cricket writer for the last five years. Currently I am pursuing my Ph.D from IIT Bombay.