Former South African batter Lizelle Lee may have stepped away from international cricket in 2022, but the fire to stay connected to the sport continues to burn just as fiercely. As she prepares to play her 100th Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) match for the Hobart Hurricanes on November 26, the powerful opener finds herself at a fascinating crossroads — still dominating domestic T20 leagues while simultaneously laying the foundation for a future career as a top-level umpire.
Lee has been a destructive presence across domestic leagues for years, and the current WBBL season is no different. Even though her run tally this season stands at 182, her strike rate remains in the 150s, a reflection of her continued hitting power. She believes a big innings is close, especially with the Hurricanes currently sitting on top of the table with five wins in six matches — thanks in large part to her opening partnership with Danni Wyatt-Hodge.
Before discussing her next chapter, Lee reflected on her desire to continue contributing as a player while slowly transitioning into officiating. Introducing this thought, she said she still feels deeply connected to the game as a player, yet her long-term vision is clear.
After sharing her mindset about balancing both roles, she expressed, “I don’t want to take away my cricket, because I still feel like there’s a lot in me, but I would not mind being one of the top international umpires.”
Lee’s ambitions stretch even further, guided by a dream many athletes share. Setting up her thoughts about the Olympics, she added, “That’s something that I really want to do – and who doesn’t want to go to the Olympics, it doesn’t matter what you’re going for.”
Now a permanent resident in Australia and playing as a local for Tasmania and the Hurricanes, the 33-year-old is laying serious groundwork for her umpiring career. She recently officiated a men’s third-grade game in Tasmanian Premier Cricket — forming one half of an all-female umpiring duo — and will soon travel to Newcastle to stand in the Female U19 National Championships.
Her presence in the WPL 2026 mega auction shortlist of 277 players only reinforces how highly valued she still is as a cricketer, even as she builds toward an entirely new role in world cricket.
Lee’s career-best season came just last year when she battered attacks with two centuries, including an unbeaten 150* against Perth Scorchers. Although this season has been quieter, she remains confident in her rhythm. Before her milestone match, she provided insight into how she feels at the crease.
She reflected on her batting form by saying, “But I think I’ve been hitting the ball really well, I’ve just been making very small mistakes that have cost me my wicket.”
Setting up her mindset about turning starts into match-winning contributions, she added, “That’s always the goal, is making those small scores into big ones, and at the end of the day, I just want to take the team across the line.”
Lee’s WBBL journey began in 2017 with the Melbourne Stars, where she accumulated 1100 runs across three seasons with a best of 103*. She then moved to the Melbourne Renegades for one season, adding 269 runs. Since 2022, her allegiance has belonged to the Hobart Hurricanes, for whom she has scored 1286 runs so far — including her stunning 150*.
Her 100th WBBL appearance on November 26 will be a milestone not just for longevity, but for reinvention. Few players manage to remain in-demand T20 stars while simultaneously building a second career in cricket. Lizelle Lee is doing both — powerfully, purposefully, and on her own terms. Her journey is far from finished. In fact, it may just be beginning in a whole new way.
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