In a storybook finish to her storied career, 36-year-old middle-order batter Elyse Villani announced her retirement from the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) moments after captaining the Hobart Hurricanes to their maiden title win.
The Hurricanes crushed Perth Scorchers, led by skipper Sophie Devine, by 8 wickets with five overs to spare in the final of the 11th edition at the Bellerive Oval, Hobart, capping a dominant campaign where Villani herself smashed 146 runs at a strike rate of 150.51 and an average of 48.66 across 8 innings in 11 matches.
Villani’s Hurricanes rewrote history by finishing atop the league stage for the first time in WBBL annals, amassing 15 points from 10 games, including 7 victories, losses to the Melbourne Stars and Sydney Sixers, and a washout against the Adelaide Strikers. This summit finish earned them a direct berth to their debut final, where they dismantled the Scorchers to spark wild celebrations.
Fresh off the triumph, Villani, speaking to the broadcaster, made the heartfelt revelation, Fresh off the triumph, Villani gathered her team for a heartfelt revelation. “You know, I’m about to go in and then tell my team that I’m done for the Big Bash, and that’s me done,” she shared.
“I just think that, not many people get to have a fairytale ending, and I’m one of those people who have been fortunate enough to have that with an amazing group of teammates and friends as well. So, yeah, it’s extra special. It definitely hasn’t sunk in yet, but that’s a huge chapter of my life, yeah, done and dusted. But I couldn’t be happier. I’m like, this is all I’ve dreamt of.”
Villani launched her WBBL journey with Perth Scorchers, debuting on December 11, 2015, against Brisbane Heat at W.A.C.A., Perth. Over her tenure, she piled up 1,706 runs at a strike rate of 114.88 and an average of 34.12 in 58 innings across 58 matches, featuring 16 half-centuries.
Her pinnacle moment came on December 26, 2017, against Melbourne Stars at W.A.C.A., Perth. Opening alongside Nicole Bolton in a chase of 164, Villani’s unbeaten 84* off 53 balls, adorned with 12 boundaries and 2 maximums, steered the Scorchers home by 9 wickets.
Switching to Melbourne Stars in 2019, Villani debuted on October 19 against the Hobart Hurricanes in Melbourne. She delivered 988 runs at a strike rate of 115.68 and an average of 30.89 in 40 innings over 41 matches, including 8 half-centuries and a century.
Her standout knock arrived on November 21, 2021, versus Adelaide Strikers. Opening with Meg Lanning in pursuit of 176, her unbeaten 100* off 65 balls, boasting 13 boundaries and 2 sixes, clinched a 9-wicket win and earned her Player of the Match honours.
Joining the Hurricanes in 2022, Villani debuted on October 14 against Sydney Thunder in Sydney. She contributed 992 runs at a strike rate of 115.21 and an average of 31 in 45 innings across 50 matches, with one half-century.
Her best for the Hurricanes shone on November 4, 2023, against the Brisbane Heat: an unbeaten 58* off 54 balls opening with Lizelle Lee, featuring 4 boundaries and a maximum, though they fell short by 6 wickets.
Across her WBBL odyssey, Villani amassed 3,841 runs at a strike rate of 115.20 and an average of 32.27 in 143 innings over 149 matches, with 25 half-centuries and a century. She also snared 3 wickets at an average of 15 and an economy of 8.18 in 3 bowling innings. Villani exists as a WBBL legend, her final act etching her name in immortality.
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