WBBL Previews: The tournament had to deal with the pandemic again and begins this season with 20 matches in Tasmania.
Adelaide Strikers
Captain: TBC
Coach: Luke Williams
Squad Jemma Barsby, Darcie Brown, Nell Bryson-Smith, Sarah Coyte, Meagan Dixon, Katie Mack, Tahlia McGrath, Tegan McPharlin, Dane van Niekerk (SA), Bridget Patterson, Maddie Penna, Annie O’Neil, Megan Schutt, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Laura Wolvaardt (SA)
Pre-season
It’s a largely stable team for Strikers from a local perspective. Darcie Brown‘s appointment to a Cricket Australia contract means that he is now one of the club’s five brands. The withdrawal of Suzie Bates over concerns about securing a quarantine position upon her return to New Zealand led to the signing of Dane van Niekerk after leaving Sixers; with racket and ball, that should be a valuable addition. Brown, Megan Schutt, Tahlia McGrath, and Legspinner AmandaJade Wellington make a very balanced attack with many Wickettakern. If you can put races on the board, you should be a great challenger.
Player to watch
Remember the blocked capture that went viral? It was one of the highlights of the tournament last year. Tahlia McGrath excelled in the multi-format series against India with bat and ball. Last season’s WBBL wasn’t exactly good from a racing standpoint with 227 runs at 16.21 and a hit rate of 82.24 at the start of innings. It remains to be seen where it will be used this season, but if it will return to the top it will need more influence in the power play.
Brisbane Heat
Captain: Jess Jonassen
Coach: Ashley Noffke
Squad Anneke Bosch (SA), Nadine de Klerk (SA), Poonam Yadav (Ind), Zoe Cooke, Nicola Hancock, Grace Harris, Ellie Johnston, Jess Jonassen, Laura Kimmince, Mikayla Hinkley, Charli Knott, Georgia Prestwidge, Georgia Redmayne, Courtney Sippel, Georgia Voll
Pre-season
Poonam Yadav’s late recruiting could be a big part of the Heat’s puzzle after falling into the semifinals in their battle for the title last season. They were a long way off at the midpoint of the campaign but broke into the knockout phase. First place will again be Georgia Redmayne, but it’s further down where they have a real x-factor in the shooting skills of Laura Kimmince, who posted a staggering 205.81 batting average last season. They also hope the young Georgia Voll will develop further. With the ball, South African off-roaders Anneke Bosch and Nadine de Klerk could be tasked with taking on the role of retired Delissa Kimmince.
Player to watch
As mentioned above, Laura Kimmince brings a dimension to the Heat’s influence that few other teams in her middle class can match. Although she had only 86 balls last season, she finished third in the six-man table with 12 and her hit rate was the only batter over 200. With 37 balls of 17 in the semifinals, she was about to lead the Heat to the finale before being buckled while trying to change it as part of a lower-order collapse.
Hobart Hurricanes
Captain: Rachel Priest
Coach: Salliann Beams
Squad: Rachel Priest (capt, NZ), Nicola Carey, Tayla Vlaeminck, Mignon du Preez (SA), Richa Ghosh (Ind), Angelina Genford, Maisy Gibson, Ruth Johnston, Sasha Moloney, Chloe Rafferty, Amy Smith, Molly Strano, Naomi Stalenberg, Belinda Vakarewa, Rachel Trenaman
Pre-season
The hurricanes have made great strides in the offseason after finishing last for the third time in four seasons. They have not reached the WBBL final since 201617 and hope to change their fate thanks to some well-known recruits. They have attracted the seasoned Mignon du Preez of stars. And the exciting addition of Richa Ghosh means that the hitting team offers a great balance between youth and experience, as well as strength and touch. Also had Rachel Trenaman in the main franchise, but she will be missing the entire season after tearing her ACL. Bowling has also gotten a boost as all-time WBBL leader Molly Strano was drawn south by her beloved Melbourne Renegades.
She brings a lot of experience and versatility with her ability to throw. In the power play and in the middle. Hurricanes finally have a balanced attack if Tayla Vlaeminck and Maisy Gibson can stay in shape. With Vlaeminck becoming a shocking weapon around the trusty Strano. Belinda Vakarewa, and Nicola Carey.
Player to watch
Tayla Vlaeminck has played 19 WBBL matches in her career. And WBBL05 has proven to be her only full season due to a series of injuries. She did not play at all last season and was groomed for the recent Australia India series and only played in the T20Is. Due to an Achilles flare during setup for her. She is arguably the fastest bowler in the world and she scares international bullies. With her speed, jumping ability, and clumsy action. Her national worth is even greater. And she could have a huge impact in this Hurricane tournament if she stays in shape. But she must use them wisely, as playing all 14 games plus the final could be asking too much. Given the travel schedule in the second half of the tournament.
Melbourne Renegades
Captain: Sophie Molineux
Coach: Simon Helmot
Squad: Sophie Molineux (capt), Georgia Wareham, Eve Jones (Eng), Harmanpreet Kaur (Ind), Jemimah Rodrigues (Ind), Makinley Blows, Josie Dooley, Jess Duffin, Ellie Falconer, Holly Ferling, Poppy Gardner, Ella Hayward, Carly Leeson, Rhiann O’Donnell, Courtney Webb
Pre-season
The Renegades have had a massive player and staff turnover since last season. With only a handful of familiar faces after a poor campaign. Lachie Stevens has left as coach and Simon Helmot takes over management and wins the Caribbean Premier League title with St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots. Sophie Molineux replaces Amy Satterthwaite as captain, while Lea Tahuhu has also not returned.
They’ve stepped up their headlines with the signings of Indian duo Harmanpreet Kaur. And England’s Jemimah Rodrigues and Eve Jones, while Jess Duffin’s return from maternity leave adds some much-needed experiences. However, bowling is tested without Tahuhu, Maitlan Brown, and Strano. They still have a lot of depth of spin, but they lack a bit of punch in the rhythm department. Holly Ferling adds some Newball experience to the stars and there is some excitement surrounding 16-year-old left shooter Poppy Gardner.
Player to watch
There is a lot of higher-order quality, but Georgia Wareham stands out as an Xfactor with bat and ball. Her bowling is world-class as she has proven in the T20 World Cups. But the Forsaken are eager to develop their strokes in T20 cricket. She had the sixth-highest hit rate last season (146.31) and hit the limit every fifth installment. Placing her behind only Laura Kimmince and Alyssa Healy with more than 100 runs. And well ahead of Meg Lanning and Sophie Devine. Wareham showed her influence under pressure from her in the second T20I. Against India and the Forsaken are eager to develop her influence.
Melbourne Stars
Captain: Meg Lanning
Coach: Jarrad Loughman
Squad: Meg Lanning (capt), Annabel Sutherland, Maia Bouchier (Eng), Kim Garth (Ire). Linsey Smith (Eng), Lucy Cripps, Maddy Darke, Nicole Faltum, Tess Flintoff, Georgia Gall, Anna Lanning, Rhys McKenna, Erin Osborne, Elyse Villani
Pre-season
It will be a huge challenge for Stars to repeat last season’s race. Towards the finals given the amount of quality of play they lost. Jarrad Loughman will take over as coach. But he won’t change much in the formula, as he worked with outgoing Trent Woodhill last season. However, the turnover of international players is the one that is most put to the test. English stars Nat Sciver and Katherine Brunt are unavailable while du Preez moved to the Hurricanes. They also lost some good bowlers to Alana King and Holly Ferling. Kim Garth is an excellent couple as he moved to Melbourne permanently from Ireland, while English Orthodox recruit Linsey Smith adds some international experience. Coming off a season in England where she made her international debut, Maia Bouchier will benefit from beating greats like Meg Lanning and Elyse Villani.
Player to watch
Lanning and Villani are often the keys to the Stars’ success, but the only player who could really take the WBBL by storm this season is Annabel Sutherland. She recently made her debut in the test against India and her bowling seems to have gone one step further. Annabel has had limited racquet opportunities in her brief international career, but she has shown promise on most occasions. She made half a century in 11 innings in the WBBL last year, but in the absence of du Preez and Sciver, she will have a lot more responsibility in midfield this season and her power play could set her apart from her.
Perth Scorchers
Captain: Sophie Devine
Coach: Shelley Nitschke
Squad: Sophie Devine (NZ)(capt), Beth Mooney, Chamari Athapaththu (SL), Marizanne Kapp (SA), Samantha Betts, Mathilda Carmichael, Piepa Cleary, Ashley Day, Amy Edgar, Heather Graham, Lisa Griffith, Alana King, Lilly Mills, Taneale Peschel, Chloe Piparo
Pre-season
The Scorchers have a high turnover again, but they have added some quality to their lineup. The addition of Marizanne Kapp gives her attack some real power, while Alana Kings Legspin provides much-needed variety after losing three good weirdos to Sarah Glenn, Nicole Bolton, and Emma King.
Bolton is also a loss in the middle, but Chamari Athapaththu will offer a different dynamic in terms of her strength. He has yet to show his best performance in the WBBL with Renegades, but he has an excellent record in Australia for Sri Lanka and last year produced two high-quality WACA innings at the T20 World Cup, with Scorchers playing three games there. The Scorchers have the best starting combination in the WBBL with Sophie Devine and Beth Mooney to start again, but the team can be a bit heavy at times and have to produce year-round and in the finals to take the title.
Player to watch
It seems obvious, but Sophie Devine and Beth Mooney are hard to ignore. Devine has a chance to win three consecutive Player of the Tournament awards, while Mooney enters the competition based on impressive success in white-ball games against India. They are two extraordinary cricketers who can carry their team on their shoulders. Devine has unfinished business, as she has never won a title in Australia, while Mooney looks to claim a third title after winning twice with the Heat before.
Sydney Sixers
Captain: Ellyse Perry
Coach: Ben Sawyer
Squad: Ellyse Perry (capt), Jade Allen, Nicole Bolton, Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns, Stella Campbell, Lauren Cheatle, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Emma Hughes, Matilda Lugg, Angela Reakes Claire Moore, Shafali Verma (IND), Radha Yadav (IND)
Pre-season
After two disappointing seasons in which they missed the final in fifth place, the Sixers’ roster has been renewed. Earlier this year, their new roster manager Lisa Sthalekar said they were “behind” on the T20 game, while Ellyse Perry told ESPNcricinfo there would be changes to their playing style. The most important of them could be Perry, who could lower the order with new signing Shafali Verma joining Healy in a potentially electric opening pair. The arrival of Maitlan Brown should make up for the loss of excess Kapps, while Bolton’s role as his scion in the power play could be significant. Pace Bowler HayleySilver Homes is out of the tournament with a hip injury and Erin Burns will at least miss Tasmania‘s leg for personal reasons.
Player to watch
Through a combination of several events, including rain at the start of the tournament and another concussion, Ashleigh Gardner only hit 69 balls, and 35 of them in one inning, in last season’s competition when she made 53. Her hit rate Hits of 134.78 were outperformed by Healy, and the freedom he can play with means that low scores represent occupational risk. But she hopes to have an impact for a longer period of time this season. She put a lot of work into deflecting her over the winter and that will once again be an integral part of the attack, especially against rival lefties.
Sydney Thunder
Captain: Rachael Haynes
Coach: Trevor Griffin
Squad: Rachael Haynes (capt), Samantha Bates, Hannah Darlington, Jess Davidson, Corinne Hall, Sammy-Jo Johnson, Anika Learoyd, Phoebe Litchfield, Smriti Mandhana (IND), Kate Peterson, Olivia Porter, Deepti Sharma (IND), Lauren Smith, Tahlia Wilson, Issy Wong (ENG)
Pre-season
The defending champions have kept their core, local players, together, although it has not yet been confirmed how much of the seasoned captain Rachael Haynes will be available during her maternity leave. As with the Sixers, the foreign players got full income from the unavailable English players and the injury to South African Shabnim Ismail. Smriti Mandhana will have a great racket to endure, especially during Hayne’s absence, but he comes into the tournament in great shape. He keeps an eye on Issy Wong’s pace as it will be interesting to see if Phoebe Litchfield is capable of a higher quality opportunity.
Player to watch
Sammy Jo Johnson had a huge impact on the ball last season after trading from the Heat with 22 wickets at 14.81 Speed this season, Johnson must take more responsibility. During the offseason, he participated in the Hundred, where he finished as Wickettakerin runner-up. Depending on how you handle the racket, an increase over the 108 races of the previous year could also be decisive.
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