The Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) is gearing up to light up the cricketing world from October 27th to December 1st, following the buzz created by the overseas draft on September 1st. One of the major announcements ahead of the competition is the Melbourne Stars signing talented young all-rounder Tess Flintoff on a one-year deal.
At 21, Flintoff is aiming to leave behind the injury troubles that affected her last summer. In WBBL|08, she showcased her talent by smashing a 16-ball fifty against the Adelaide Strikers, but a hamstring strain followed by a back injury saw her sidelined for most of the last season. Now fully recovered, Flintoff is set to make an impact. A seasoned player despite her young age, she has represented the Stars in 53 WBBL matches, having debuted at just 16. To date, she has amassed 905 runs and claimed 26 wickets, with the best bowling figure of 3/13.
Her return to form was on display during a recent clash against India A on the Gold Coast, where she took 3/39 and turned the game with her bowling. Flintoff reflected on her performance, saying, “Playing against India A was a great experience recently and I’m really happy with my preseason so far.”
A fully fit Flintoff is a huge boost for the Stars, who have also added international heavyweights Marizanne Kapp and Deepti Sharma to their squad for the upcoming season. Excited about the team’s prospects, Flintoff said, “We’ve got a great bunch of girls who I love playing with, and we’re not putting a ceiling on what we can achieve this year.”
The Melbourne Stars will take the field at the historic Melbourne Cricket Ground on November 15th in a much-anticipated showdown against the Melbourne Renegades. Flintoff is thrilled at the chance to play at the venue, commenting, “The WBBL is one of the best competitions in the world and it’s always exciting to have an opportunity to play at the MCG.”
General Manager Blair Crouch is optimistic about Flintoff’s return to form and what she brings to the team. “We can’t wait to see what Tess can produce this season after having her last two WBBL campaigns interrupted by injury. We know she has the talent to become an elite all-rounder and hopefully she can play her role and put together a consistent season,” Crouch stated.
The re-signing of Flintoff comes as the Stars look to bounce back from two consecutive seasons of failing to qualify for the final in WBBL|09. The WBBL|10 is set to begin on October 27th, with the Stars’ first game scheduled against the Perth Scorchers on the opening day, marking the third match of the day. The final will take place on December 1st, setting the stage for another action-packed season of women’s cricket.
