The upcoming edition of the Women’s Big Bash League is going to be a landmark 10th edition of the tournament since it’s inception in the year 2015. Adelaide Strikers led by skipper Tahlia McGrath clinched back-to-back titles in the 8th and the 9th editions in 2022 and 2023. The draft process was scheduled to take place on 1st September (Sunday) 2024 from 10:30 PM IST.
Team-wise players to be picked at the WBBL 10 Draft
Adelaide Strikers:
The defending champions led by skipper Tahlia McGrath, retained the 25-year-old South African skipper Laura Wolvaardt as their first pick in round one of the draft. They decided to pass on in the 2nd round. They went on to pick the 28-year-old Indian vice-captain Smriti Mandhana as a part of the pre-season signing in the 3rd round, before signing the 22-year-old young, all-around sensation from Ireland, Orla Prendergast in the final round. In all, the Strikers picked three players from the WBBL 10 draft.
The Indian vice-captain Smriti Mandhana became the first Indian to represent the Adelaide Strikers in the WBBL.
Adelaide Strikers Squad (after the draft):
Jemma Barsby, Darcie Brown, Eleanor Larosa, Katie Mack, Smriti Mandhana (India), Anesu Mushangwe, Tahlia McGrath (c), Bridget Patterson, Maddie Penna, Orla Prendergast (Ireland), Megan Schutt, Amanda-Jade Wellington, and Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa).
Brisbane Heat:
Heat led by skipper Jess Jonassen finished as the runners-up of the 9th edition of the Women’s Big Bash League. They ended up on the losing side against the Adelaide Strikers led by skipper Tahlia McGarth by 3 runs in the final.
Brisbane Heat picked up India’s young 23-year-old elegant top-order batter Jemimah Rodrigues in the first round of the draft. They also went on to pick the 35-year-old veteran Indian pace-bowling all-rounder Shikha Pandey in the 2nd round before passing on in the 3rd round. They retained the young 24-year-old South African all-rounder Nadine de Klerk as a part of the pre-season signing in the final round.
Brisbane Heat Squad (after the draft):
Bonnie Berry, Nadine de Klerk (South Africa), Sianna Ginger, Lucy Hamilton, Nicola Hancock, Grace Harris, Laura Harris, Ellie Johnston, Jess Jonassen, Charli Knott, Shikha Pandey (India), Grace Parsons, Georgia Redmayne, Jemimah Rodrigues (India), and Mikayla Wrigley.
Hobart Hurricanes:
The Hobart Hurricanes led by skipper Elyse Villani had a disappointing campaign last season. They finished 6th on the points table, with 13 points from 14 games. They picked up the veteran 33-year-old explosive England opening batter Danielle Wyatt in the first round of the draft. They also picked up the veteran 30-year-old all-rounder from South Africa Chloe Tryon in the 2nd round.
They also went on to pick the former South African opener, Lizelle Lee as a part of the pre-season signing in the 3rd round before passing it on in the final round.
Hobart Hurricanes Squad (after the draft):
Nicola Carey, Heather Graham, Ruth Johnston, Lizelle Lee (South Africa), Hayley Silver-Holmes, Amy Smith, Lauren Smith, Molly Strano, Rachel Trenaman, Chloe Tryon (South Africa), Elyse Villani, and Danni Wyatt (England).
Melbourne Stars:
The Stars were led by skipper Meg Lanning and Annabel Sutherland in the 2nd half of the season. They also had a disappointing season in the 9th edition of the tournament as they finished 2nd last on the points table with 12 points from 14 games last season.
They picked up the 27-year-old, in-form Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma in the first round of the draft. They also picked up the 34-year-old veteran South African all-rounder Marizanne Kapp as a part of the pre-season signing in the 2nd round. They went on to sign the 23-year-old young Indian wicket-keeper batter Yastika Bhatia in the 3rd round. They eventually passed on in the final round.
Melbourne Stars Squad (after the draft):
Yastika Bhatia (India), Sophie Day, Kim Garth, Marizanne Kapp (South Africa), Meg Lanning, Sophie Reid, Deepti Sharma (India), and Annabel Sutherland.
Which team has picked the best overseas talent? #CricketTwitter #WBBL10 pic.twitter.com/kMJCtS061J
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) September 1, 2024
Melbourne Renegades:
The Renegades led by skipper Hayley Matthews had a forgettable campaign in the 9th edition of the tournament. They finished last on the points table with just four points from 14 games. Their couple of victories came against the Brisbane Heat and the eventual champions Adelaide Strikers last season.
They picked up the 33-year-old veteran, power-packed, Caribbean all-rounder Deandra Dottin in the first round of the draft. She recently revoked her international retirement and was called up in the West Indian squad for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. They also picked up the West Indian skipper Hayley Matthews as a part of the pre-season signing in the 2nd round.
They went on to sign the the 20-year-old young sensational all-rounder from England, Alice Capsey in the 3rd round, before eventually passing on in the final round. The exclusion of the Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur was one of the shocking calls by the franchise in the draft.
Melbourne Renegades Squad (after the draft):
Alice Capsey (England), Sarah Coyte, Emma de Broughe, Josie Dooley, Deandra Dottin (West Indies), Nicole Faltum, Ella Hayward, Milly Illingworth, Hayley Matthews (West Indies), Sophie Molineux, Georgia Prestwidge, Naomi Stalenberg, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham, and Courtney Webb.
Perth Scorchers:
The Scorchers led by skipper Sophie Devine had an impressive campaign in the 9th edition of the tournament. They finished 2nd on the points table with 16 points from 14 games last season. However, they were knocked out in the Challenger courtesy of a heavy 67-run defeat against Brisbane Heat.
They picked up their skipper Sophie Devine in the first round of the draft as a part of their pre-season signing. They also picked up the veteran 31-year-old wicket-keeper batter from England in the 2nd round. They went on to pick the 29-year-old Indian top-order batter Dayalan Hemalatha in the 3rd round before eventually passing on in the final round.
Dayalan Hemalatha became the first Indian to be picked by the Perth Scorchers in the Women’s Big Bash League.
Perth Scorchers Squad (after the draft):
Chloe Ainsworth, Stella Campbell, Piepa Cleary, Maddy Darke, Hemalatha Dayalan (India), Sophie Devine (New Zealand), Amy Edgar, Mikayla Hinkley, Amy Jones (England), Alana King, Lilly Mills, Beth Mooney, and Chloe Piparo
Sydney Sixers:
The Sixers led by skipper Ellyse Perry had a decent campaign in the 9th edition of the tournament. They finished 5th on the points table with 14 points from 14 games last season.
They retained the young 25-year-old left-arm spinner from England Sophie Ecclestone in the first round of the draft. They also picked up the 23-year-old young sensational White Ferns all-rounder Amelia Kerr in the 2nd round as a part of the pre-season signing. They passed on in the 3rd round, before eventually picking up the 27-year-old England all-rounder Hollie Armitage in the final round.
Sydney Sixers Squad (after the draft):
Hollie Armitage (England), Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns, Mathilda Carmichael, Lauren Cheatle, Sophie Ecclestone (England), Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Amelia Kerr (New Zealand), Kate Pelle, Ellyse Perry, and Kate Peterson, Courtney Sippel.
Sydney Thunder:
Thunder led by skipper Heather Knight also had a decent campaign in the 9th edition of the tournament. They finished 4th on the points table with 15 points from 14 games. They were eventually knocked out in the Eliminator courtesy of a 44-run defeat against the Brisbane Heat.
Sydney Thunder retained their skipper Heather Knight in the first round of the draft. They picked up the 35-year-old veteran former South African speedster Shabnim Ismail in the 2nd round. They also picked the Sri Lankan skipper in the 3rd round as a part of the pre-season signing. They went on to pick the 30-year-old all-rounder from England Georgia Adams in the final round. In all, they picked four players in the draft, the most by any franchise in this year’s draft process.
Sydney Thunder Squad (after the draft):
Georgia Adams (England), Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka), Sam Bates, Hannah Darlington, Sienna Eve, Saskia Horley, Shabnim Ismail (South Africa), Heather Knight (England), Anika Learoyd, Phoebe Litchfield, Claire Moore, Taneale Peschel, Georgia Voll, and Tahlia Wilson.