The Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) 2024 draft, held on September 1st, was a highly anticipated event, drawing attention from cricket enthusiasts around the globe. This year’s draft was marked by a mix of exciting selections and unexpected omissions. With the tournament set to run from October 27th to December 1st, the draft spotlighted both established stars and emerging talents, setting the stage for what promises to be another thrilling season of women’s cricket. The exclusion of several high-profile players, including some of the biggest names in the sport including prominent players like Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, Shreyanka Patil, New Zealand veteran Suzie Bates, England’s Sophia Dunkley, Pakistan’s all-rounder Nida Dar, and Ireland’s Gaby Lewis, has sparked discussions and left fans eagerly awaiting the action to unfold.
Harmanpreet Kaur, with her vast experience of 173 caps and 118 matches as captain, stands out as a significant absence. She is the only Indian to score a century in T20Is and has previously played multiple seasons in the WBBL for the Sydney Thunder and Melbourne Renegades. Her exclusion is particularly surprising given her history of being the only Indian to play in the WBBL last season and her record-breaking Player of the Tournament (POTM) award in 2021, where she scored 406 runs at a strike rate of 131 and took 15 wickets. She remains the only Indian with over 1,000 runs in the WBBL, amassing 1,440 runs in 62 matches.
Shreyanka Patil, another notable omission, had an outstanding season in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024, winning the Purple Cap with 13 wickets. Despite her key role in Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) victory and her inclusion in India’s squad for the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, no WBBL team picked her up. The 22-year-old has already made her mark in international cricket with 16 wickets in 12 T20Is since her debut in December 2023.
A cornerstone of women’s cricket, Suzie Bates is the leading run-scorer in Women’s T20Is with an astounding 4,348 runs. Her WBBL experience is equally impressive, having played 100 matches and contributed over 2,200 runs along with 35 wickets. Bates’ absence from the WBBL 2024 is a significant surprise, given her track record with teams like Sydney Sixers, Adelaide Strikers, and Perth Scorchers.
Pakistan’s most experienced T20I player, Nida Dar, has been a force in international cricket with 143 wickets and nearly 2,000 runs in the format. Her consistent performances, including a remarkable 5 for 21 against Sri Lanka, make her exclusion from the WBBL 2024 a surprising one, as she remains one of the top all-rounders in the game.
England’s Sophia Dunkley, known for her aggressive batting, had a mixed season with the Melbourne Stars in 2023. Despite her recent strong performances in The Hundred and the Charlotte Edwards Cup, where she scored consistently, Dunkley didn’t find a spot in the WBBL 2024, making her a notable omission given her rising form.
At just 23, Gaby Lewis has already carved out a stellar international career, amassing over 2,000 runs in T20Is, including two centuries. Her early debut and rapid rise in the ranks make her a standout player, and her omission from this year’s WBBL is unexpected given her potential to light up the tournament with her batting prowess
The WBBL 2024 draft underscored the dynamic and unpredictable nature of franchise cricket, where even the most accomplished and promising players can find themselves on the sidelines. The absence of stars like Harmanpreet Kaur, Suzie Bates, and the rising talents of Shreyanka Patil and Gaby Lewis highlights the fierce competition and evolving strategies of the teams. As the tournament approaches, these players’ absence will undoubtedly be felt, but it also opens the door for new talents to shine. The WBBL 2024 draft highlighted both the depth of international talent and the tough competition for spots.