The upcoming 9th edition of the Women’s Big Bash League is all set to get underway on 19th October 2023. The draft system for overseas players was introduced for the first time in the Women’s Big Bash League. It was first introduced in the Men’s Big Bash League last year.
The players drafting process took place on 3rd September 2023. Eight teams picked in total 17 players.
The 34-year-old South African veteran Mignon du Preez had earlier opted out of the Inaugural overseas players draft of the WBBL. However, she now makes a wild-card entry as she gets picked by the Brisbane Heat ahead of the 9th edition of the Women’s Big Bash League through direct nominations.
She made her Women’s Big Bash League debut for the Melbourne Stars in 2015. She scored 179 runs in her debut season in the WBBL. Her best performance with the bat came against the Adelaide Strikers in her debut season, when she stayed unbeaten on 65, scoring at a strike rate of 114.03. She scored 1498 runs in 61 innings at an average of 26.75 and an impressive strike rate of 111.70. Her tally of runs includes 10 half-centuries.
So far she has scored 2292 runs in 89 innings with an average of 28.29 and an impressive strike rate of 113.80 in her career in the Women’s Big Bash League. Her best season with the bat came in 2019 when she scored 471 runs at a strike rate of 113.49. Her best performance with the bat came against Brisbane Heat when she scored 88 runs at an impressive strike rate of 172.54.
The Brisbane Heat just signed a powerhouse 🔥
Mignon du Preez, welcome aboard for the WBBL adventure.#CricketTwitter #WBBL09 | 📸: Getty pic.twitter.com/AuYFv9P6U9
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) September 9, 2023
She moved to Hobart Hurricanes in the 7th edition of the Women’s Big Bash League in the year 2021. She scored 794 runs at a strike rate of 117.97. Her tally of runs includes seven half-centuries. She has represented South Africa for 114 matches and has scored over 1800 runs in 104 innings at a strike rate of 101.23. Her tally of runs includes seven half-centuries for South Africa.
“She’s playing well in the Caribbean Premier League at the moment, and we’re looking forward to her coming over next month to join the preparations for the WBBL. The squad is coming together well and we’re looking forward to the games. Minnie is a proven match-winner with the bat, especially in Australian conditions she is a calm and composed leader and a great person, so naturally we are thrilled to have her joining the Heat for the summer.” Brisbane Heat head coach Ashley Noffke, on having one of the most experienced South African batters playing for the Brisbane Heat in the upcoming 9th edition of the Women’s Big Bash League.
(Quotes sourced from Brisbane Heat Press Release).