Veteran all-rounder Erin Burns is set to make her magenta comeback for the Sydney Sixers in Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) 11, just three and a half months after giving birth to her daughter, Nina. Erin Burns is set to make her magenta comeback for the Sydney Sixers in Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) 11, just three and a half months after giving birth to her daughter, Nina. Her return is not merely a sporting milestone; it’s a powerful statement about motherhood, resilience, and commitment to the game.
As the Sixers gear up for the T20 Spring Challenge leading up to the WBBL, Burns has already rejoined the training environment and declared herself available for selection. Under Cricket Australia’s Parental Leave Policy, players can take up to 12 months of paid leave, but the option to return earlier (pending medical clearance) allows elite athletes like Burns to balance family and profession. In her own words, she is “stoked to be back with the club and to start the transition back into playing.”
Burns’ journey back is interwoven with her life off the field. As she re-enters the Sixers setup, she reflects on the days she spent with her daughter Nina, alongside husband Anna and son Jack. She acknowledges that the club’s support has been key during this period: “It feels great to be back having a hit… Nina will be a great little mascot for the Sixers.”
From the management’s side, Rachael Haynes, General Manager of the Sixers, hailed Burns’ return as a boon for both on-field results and the club’s culture. She reaffirmed the importance of inclusive frameworks as Burns works closely with support staff to ensure her reintroduction to competition is managed carefully and respectfully.
Burns is contracted through WBBL 11 and the upcoming T20 Spring Challenge, which begins at North Sydney Oval. Her comeback will be closely watched as she uses Spring Challenge as a “barometer” to assess her readiness for full WBBL competition. To fully appreciate the narrative of this return, it helps to understand Erin Burns’ cricketing arc, one marked by perseverance, versatility, and late-blooming success.
Born on 22 June 1988 in Wollongong, New South Wales, Burns initially found it difficult to break into the top NSW squads. Frustrated with limited opportunities, she accepted an offer to play in Tasmania in 2009 with the newly formed Tasmanian Roar. That move proved pivotal: she won the Tasmanian Roar Player of the Year award in 2009–10, and later repeated that honour in 2012–13, establishing herself as a serious all-round talent.
Burns’ academic credentials are also notable. She holds a degree in Exercise Science and a Master’s in Physiotherapy, and before fully committing to cricket, worked as a physiotherapist. She also took up competitive cycling, partly as rehabilitation after a serious knee cartilage injury in 2014.
Burns’ domestic career has been rich in variety. After Tasmania, she played for the ACT Meteors before signing a state contract with New South Wales in 2019. In Big Bash terms, she began with Hobart Hurricanes (WBBL 01 onward) before transitioning to the Sydney Sixers ahead of WBBL 04, where she has since added 1317 runs and struck 31 wickets.
Erin Burns isn’t just returning to wear the magenta; she is returning as a symbol of perseverance, love for cricket, and a compelling new chapter in an already distinguished career.
(Quotes sourced from Sydney Sixers press release)
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