Ahead of the Women's Big Bash League's seventh installment getting underway in Tasmania on Thursday, sports reporter JOSH PARTRIDGE previews the competition.
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With play starting in Hobart before heading up North on Saturday, October 23, this preview will be a one-stop shop for information with full squads, players to watch and Launceston's fixtures throughout.
ADELAIDE STRIKERS
Last year: Sixth
Squad: Darcie Brown, Tahlia McGrath, Megan Schutt, Dane van Niekerk, Laura Wolvaardt, Jemma Barsby, Nell Bryson-Smith, Sarah Coyte, Meagan Dixon, Katie Mack, Tegan McPharlin, Bridget Patterson, Maddie Penna, Annie O'Neil, Amanda-Jade Wellington.
Key changes: Dane van Niekerk (in from Sixers), former captain Suzie Bates (out).
Player to watch: Amanda-Jade Wellington
Packed with Australian contracted players in Brown, McGrath and Schutt, the Strikers posses another deadly weapon in leg-spinner Wellington.
Having played 21 games for Australia, Wellington is still only 24 years of age and was compared to Shane Warne back in 2017 after a ripping wicket in her sole Test match.
BRISBANE HEAT
Last year: Semi-finalists
Squad: Jess Jonassen (c), Anneke Bosch, Nadine de Klerk, Poonam Yadav, Zoe Cooke, Nicola Hancock, Grace Harris, Laura Kimmince, Mikayla Hinkley, Charli Knott, Georgia Prestwidge, Georgia Redmayne, Courtney Sippel, Georgia Voll
Key changes: Poonam Yadav (in), Amelia Kerr, Delissa Kimmince (out).
Player to watch: Georgia Redmayne
Former Hobart Hurricane Redmayne was in Australia's squad for the multi-format series against India earlier this month but went unused and will be eager to add to her previous WBBL form and show the selectors what's needed to make her international debut.
HOBART HURRICANES
Last year: Eighth
Squad: Rachel Priest (c), Nicola Carey, Tayla Vlaeminck, Mignon du Preez, Richa Ghosh, Angelina Genford, Maisy Gibson, Ruth Johnston, Sasha Moloney, Chloe Rafferty, Amy Smith, Molly Strano, Naomi Stalenberg, Belinda Vakarewa, Rachel Trenaman (injured - ACL)
Key changes: Molly Strano, Mignon du Preez (in), Brooke Hepburn, Corinne Hall, Hayley Matthews (out).
Player to watch: Molly Strano
The WBBL's most prolific wicket-taker, Strano joined the purple army in a shock move from the Renegades during the pre-season.
As the 'Canes feature plenty of new faces looking to make finals, the spinner's name is the biggest of them all and will be crucial to a berth for the first time in five seasons.
MELBOURNE RENEGADES
Last year: Seventh
Squad: Sophie Molineux (c), Georgia Wareham, Eve Jones, Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Makinley Blows, Josie Dooley, Jess Duffin, Ellen Falconer, Holly Ferling, Poppy Gardner, Ella Hayward, Carly Leeson, Rhiann O'Donnell, Courtney Webb
Key changes: Harmenpreet Kaur, Holly Ferling, Jess Duffin (in), Molly Strano, Maitlan Brown, Amy Satterthwaite (out).
Player to watch: Courtney Webb
Tasmanian Webb had a breakout season for the Renegades in WBBL06, but with Duffin returning to the line-up, her role may be affected, making for an interesting year as she aims for higher honours.
MELBOURNE STARS
Last year: Runners-up
Squad: Meg Lanning (c), Annabel Sutherland, Maia Bouchier, Kim Garth, Linsey Smith, Lucy Cripps, Maddy Darke, Nicole Faltum, Tess Flintoff, Georgia Gall, Anna Lanning, Rhys McKenna, Erin Osborne, Elyse Villani
Key changes: Kim Garth, Maia Bouchier (in), Alana King, Katherine Brunt, Natalie Sciver (out).
Player to watch: Maia Bouchier
Recently debuting for England, the young batter can certainly hit the ball and heads to the WBBL for the first time to cover the Stars' key international losses.
PERTH SCORCHERS
Last year: Semi-finalist
Squad: Sophie Devine (c), Beth Mooney, Chamari Athapathu, Marizanne Kapp, Samantha Betts, Mathilda Carmichael, Piepa Cleary, Ashley Day, Amy Edgar, Heather Graham, Lisa Griffith, Alana King, Lilly Mills, Taneale Peschel, Chloe Piparo.
Key changes: Marizanne Kapp, Alana King (in), Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Nicole Bolton (out).
Player to watch: Marizanne Kapp
In new colours after 83 matches with the Sixers, Kapp - who is the WBBL's third-highest wicket-taker - adds depth to an already strong Scorchers outfit.
SYDNEY SIXERS
Last year: Fifth
Squad: Ellyse Perry (c), Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Shafali Verma, Radha Yadav, Jade Allen, Nicole Bolton, Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns, Stella Campbell, Lauren Cheatle, Emma Hughes, Matilda Lugg, Angela Reakes, Hayley Silver-Holmes (injured - hip), Claire Moore (injury replacement)
Key changes: Nicole Bolton, Maitlan Brown (in), Marizanne Kapp, Dane van Niekerk (out)
Player to watch: Shafali Verma
Smacking her first ball of the Australian T20 series for six, Verma is well suited to the WBBL game and could set the competition alight, providing the spark the league's biggest team needs to return to finals.
SYDNEY THUNDER
Last year: Champions
Squad: Rachael Haynes (c), Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, Issy Wong, Sam Bates, Hannah Darlington, Jessica Davidson, Corinne Hall, Sammy-Jo Johnson, Anika Learoyd, Phoebe Litchfield, Kate Peterson, Olivia Porter, Lauren Smith, Tahlia Wilson
Key changes: Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, Corinne Hall (in), Heather Knight, Rachel Trenamen (out)
Player to watch: Phoebe Litchfield
Only 18 years old, Litchfield is in her third season of WBBL cricket and has proven to be a prodigious talent during her time at the Thunder.
WBBL in Launnie
Saturday, October 23
10:15am Hobart Hurricanes v Adelaide Strikers, Invermay Park
2pm Melbourne Stars v Brisbane Heat, Invermay Park
3:40pm Sydney Thunder v Sydney Sixers, UTAS
7:05pm Perth Scorchers v Melbourne Renegades, UTAS
Sunday, October 24
10:15am Adelaide Strikers v Brisbane Heat, Invermay Park
1:40pm Sydney Sixers v Melbourne Renegades, UTAS
5:15pm Perth Scorchers v Sydney Thunder, UTAS
Tuesday, October 26
1:25pm Melbourne Stars v Sydney Thunder, UTAS
4:50pm Hobart Hurricanes v Brisbane Heat, UTAS
Wednesday, October 27
1:25pm Sydney Thunder v Melbourne Renegades, UTAS
4:50pm Hobart Hurricanes v Melbourne Stars, UTAS
Saturday, October 30
4:05pm Sydney Thunder v Melbourne Stars, UTAS
7:30pm Brisbane Heat v Hobart Hurricanes, UTAS
Sunday, October 31
10:15am Sydney Thunder v Hobart Hurricanes, UTAS
1:40pm Brisbane Heat v Melbourne Stars, UTAS
Josh Partridge
As a sports-mad fan who loves to remain challenged, sports journalism always seemed the path for me and it's allowed me to do things I never thought possible. A keen racquet sports player, I'm experienced in that field, allowing me to do my job at a strong standard.
As a sports-mad fan who loves to remain challenged, sports journalism always seemed the path for me and it's allowed me to do things I never thought possible. A keen racquet sports player, I'm experienced in that field, allowing me to do my job at a strong standard.
