PREVIEW | WBBL10 – Part 1
THE 10th edition of the Women’s Big Bash League kicks off this weekend, and ahead of the tournament Rookie Me Central will take a look at all the teams, and see what their chances at the tournament may be.
In part one of two, we will look at the first four teams alphabetically – Adelaide Strikers, Brisbane Heat, Hobart Hurricanes and Melbourne Renegades.
ADELAIDE STRIKERS
In a moment of history repeating itself, the Adelaide Strikers are again coming into this season as the defending champions after winning their second title in a row last season.
The Strikers have also kept most of their squad from last season, so will no doubt be a contender again this season.
Their new faces are either young or absolute world class talent, while most of the departures were not getting regular game time anyway.
The biggest new face in dark blue this tournament is Smriti Mandhana, with the Indian star batter one of the Strikers’ draftees in the Overseas Draft and will compliment returning star and fellow draftee Laura Wolvaardt. Their third draftee is Orla Prendergast, who is having a breakout period for the Irish national team and will be looking to bring some strong batting power to the Strikers’ line up.
These big name inclusions are complimented by some younger new faces in Eleanor Larosa and Maggie Clark
Adelaide Strikers WBBL10 Squad: Jemma Barsby, Darcie Brown, Maggie Clark, Ellie Johnston, Eleanor Larosa, Katie Mack, Smriti Mandhana (India), Anesu Mushangwe, Tahlia McGrath (c), Bridget Patterson, Maddie Penna, Orla Prendergast (Ireland), Megan Schutt, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa)
BRISBANE HEAT
Last year’s runners ups will be looking to go one better this season under new coach Mark Sorrell, and have also brought in a combination of youth and international experience.
On the more youthful end of the scale, Queensland youngster Sianna Ginger is a rising force in Australian cricket and will be looking to bring her strong form with ball in hand to the Heat.
Then on the international side of the scale, the Heat have brought in some bowling power in Nadine de Klerk and Shikha Pandey, complimented by the big hitting prowess of Jemimah Rodrigues. However, Rodrigues will miss the first two matches of the tournament, so Lauren Winfield-Hill will take her place in the squad, completing a full circle moment for the Englishwoman.
However, they did lose Amelia Kerr to the Sixers, which will be a massive loss for them.
Brisbane Heat WBBL|10 Squad: Bonnie Berry, Nadine de Klerk (South Africa), Sianna Ginger, Lucy Hamilton, Nicola Hancock, Grace Harris, Laura Harris, Jess Jonassen, Charli Knott, Shikha Pandey (India), Grace Parsons, Georgia Redmayne, Jemimah Rodrigues (India) Mikayla Wrigley, Lauren Windfield-Hill
HOBART HURRICANES
Despite Tasmania’s dominating form in recent years at WNCL level, the state’s WBBL side has not been able to replicate it, last season only finishing sixth.
However, the Hurricanes have brought in some big hitting power, which will be a big help
They brought in Chloe Tryon and Danni Wyatt-Hodge through the draft, who will compliment Lizelle Lee and take some pressure off Lee and the likes of Elyse Villani to make big scores all the time. When Wyatt-Hodge has to leave later in the tournament, the Hurricane’s big hitting power increases even further because Suzie Bates is Wyatt-Hodge’s replacement.
However their bowling stocks have taken a bit of a hit, with Naomi Stalenberg, Maisy Gibson and Shabnim Ismail all leaving for other WBBL sides, so some one else is going to have to step up in their place.
Hobart Hurricanes WBBL|10 Squad: Nicola Carey, Zoe Cooke, Heather Graham, Ruth Johnston, Lizelle Lee (South Africa), Hayley Silver-Holmes, Tabatha Saville, Amy Smith, Lauren Smith, Molly Strano, Rachel Trenaman, Chloe Tryon (South Africa), Elyse Villani, Callie Wilson, Danni Wyatt-Hodge (England)
Associate rookie: Kathryn Bryce (Scotland)
Replacement Player: Suzie Bates (New Zealand)
MELBOURNE RENEGADES
WBBL09 was not an easy tournament for the red side of Melbourne, with injuries to stars meaning the Renegades were only able to pick up two wins last season.
But, they have done some really good recruiting over the offseason so things should go a bit better this season.
After retaining Hayley Matthews in the draft, they were also able to pick up big hitting Englishwoman Alice Capsey and allround star Deandra Dottin.
Not only that, the Renegades were also able to coax over keeper Nicole Faltum and rising young quick Milly Illingworth from the Stars, who will also both be handy inclusions for the Renegades.
However, they did lose experienced star power in Harmanpreet Kaur and Tammy Beaumont, who will leave big holes to fill in the top of the order.
Melbourne Renegades WBBL|10 Squad: Alice Capsey (England), Sarah Coyte, Emma de Broughe, Josie Dooley, Deandra Dottin (West Indies), Nicole Faltum, Ella Hayward, Milly Illingworth, Hayley Matthews (West Indies), Sophie Molineux, Georgia Prestwidge, Naomi Stalenberg, Georgia Wareham, Courtney Webb
JJ dejected but reflective after Heat miss mark
IT WAS not to be for Brisbane Heat on the weekend in the Women’s Big Bash League Final, as Melbourne Renegades saluted to win their first ever title. Speaking to the media post-match, defeated Heat skipper Jess Jonassen reflected on where it all went wrong for her side. “To be fair, I think we were […]
Stats Zone: WBBL10 Wrap
NOW THAT the WBBL season has finished for another year, let us take a look at who topped the stats sheets for WBBL10. BATTING The interesting thing about the way the batting stats looked at the conclusion of WBBL10 is that the most runs list looks very different to the highest strike rates list. Firstly, […]
Milly’s marvelous move ends in ultimate joy
IT WAS hard to wipe the smile off the face of young Melbourne Renegades’ star Milly Illingworth after her side clinched its first Women’s Big Bash League title yesterday at the MCG. “It’s so hard to explain this sort of feeling,” Illingworth explained. “We did our very best from the get go and I think […]
Renegades rise to the top to claim inaugural title
MELBOURNE Renegades have won their first Women’s Big Bash League title, defeating the Brisbane Heat by seven runs in today’s rain interrupted final. Despite not making the best of scores with the bat, the Renegades gave an exceptional fielding performance to take home the title. Player of the Final honours went to Hayley Matthews, who […]
Heat book second consecutive final after Thunder collapse
SYDNEY Thunder were outclassed in the batting stakes by Brisbane Heat to ensure they would lineup in their second consecutive WBBL final. Facing the Renegades in Melbourne on Sunday, the Heat have now won six games in a row, setting up a tantalising match-up. Winning the match by nine wickets, the victory was set up […]
Thunder stifles Hurricanes to progress through finals
THE SYDNEY Thunder have defeated the Hobart Hurricanes by six wickets to win the Women’s Big Bash League’s Knockout and move through to the next stage of the finals series. After the Hurricanes made only 6/126, the Thunder then reached that target with an over to spare. The win sees the Thunder move through to […]
Thunder rumbles towards another finals campaign
THE SYDNEY Thunder are back in another WBBL finals series, and are gearing up for their second consecutive Knockout final when they host the Hobart Hurricanes tonight. It has been a year with plenty of change at the club, one of which was the appointing of a new captain in Phoebe Litchfield. “I’ve learned a […]
PREVIEW | WBBL10 Finals
AFTER an entertaining home and away portion of this year’s Women’s Big Bash League season, it is now time for the finals. Four teams are left – Melbourne Renegades, Brisbane Heat, Sydney Thunder and the Hobart Hurricanes. Some have harder paths to The Final than others, but they all have a better chance at the […]
Heat win, but not quick enough for big goal
THE FINAL day of the Women’s Big Bash League home and away season was certainly entertaining, and tied up some loose ends ahead of an exciting finals series. With the morning match between the Stars and Strikers falling victim to the unpleasant Melbourne weather, it all came down to the final match of the season […]
