All you need to know about WBBL season 3

The third edition of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) is around the corner and the fans are waiting with baited breath for it to kickoff. The action starts from December 9 and promises to be bigger and better than all its previous editions. Eight teams will face off in a gruelling contest in their bid to claim the coveted trophy. Each club’s playing roster can contain no more than five marquee players, inclusive of the overseas and Australian Women’s Cricket Team players.

Title sponsor Rebel and Cricket Australia will also continue to develop the Rebel Young Gun Award, which aims to promote promising talent within the WBBL. In WBBL season 3, seven ‘Rebel Young Gun’ weekly winners will be selected over the course of the season. Winners, who must be under 21 years old at the start of the season, will be chosen based on match performance, on-field, and off-field attitude, and as their demonstration of skill, tenacity and good sportsmanship.

Venues

The WBBL is going far and wide in its third season. Apart from the hallowed venues like the MCG, SCG, WACA and Gabba and regular hotspots North Sydney Oval and Allan Border Field, it has added some brand new locations as well.

In total, 23 incredible venues have been earmarked for the upcoming edition of the WBBL that will be played this summer. For the first time – Traeger Park in Alice Springs, Kardinia Park in Geelong, UTAS Stadium in Launceston and Manuka Oval in Canberra is set to feature a WBBL fixture.

Teams

Hobart Hurricanes

The Hurricanes look good on paper after they confirmed the signings of Emma Thompson, Erin Fazackerley and Brooke Hepburn for the summer. Middle-order batter Thompson played 13 matches last season, while Fazackerley is a familiar surname in Tasmanian cricket circles. Erin is the niece of Kim Fazackerley, who was the first Tasmanian female to play for Australia.

Hepburn has been a key component of the Hurricanes bowling stocks in the previous season, taking 11 wickets in 14 matches. Hobart will, however, have at least one new face this summer following the retirement of former Australia seamer Julie Hunter.

Squad: Corinne Hall (C), Emma Thompson, Erin Fazackerley, Brooke Hepburn, Georgia Redmayne, Veronica Pyke, Katelyn Fryett, Celeste Raack, Sasha Moloney, Veda Krishnamurthy (Ind), Lauren Winfield (Eng), Meg Phillips, Stefanie Daffara, Nicola Hancock, Hayley Matthews

In: Veda Krishnamurthy, Lauren Winfield, Stefanie Daffara (Thunder), Nicola Hancock

Out: Erin Burns (Sixers), Julie Hunter (retired), Amy Satterthwaite (Renegades), Heater Knight (injured)

Melbourne Renegades

The Renegades have bolstered their batting line-up with the signature of former Australia batter Jess Duffin, who has moved across from the Melbourne Stars. Duffin will share her commitments between the Renegades and Collingwood Football Club and is hoping to make a major impact in WBBL 3 after undergoing shoulder surgery during the off-season. She joins one of the most promising young players in the country in red, with allrounder Sophie Molineux committing to a multi-year deal with the club.

Squad: Amy Satterthwaite (C) (NZ), Molly Strano, Sophie Molineux, Jess Duffin, Leah Tahuhu (NZ), Hayley Jensen, Emma Inglis, Maitlan Brown, Claire Koski, Georgia Wareham, Chamari Atapattu (SL), Tayla Vlaeminck, Kris Britt, Rhiann O’Donnell, Jennifer Taffs

In: Jess Duffin (Stars), Hayley Jensen (Stars), Amy Satterthwaite (Hurricanes), Emma Inglis (Stars), Claire Koski (Thunder), Chamari Atapattu (SL), Rhiann O’Donnell, Jennifer Taffs

Out: Grace Harris (Heat), Rachel Priest (Thunder), Nicole Goodwin, Kirsty Lamb, Natalie Plane, Annabel Sutherland (Stars), Dannielle Wyatt, Amy Yates

Melbourne Stars

The Melbourne Stars will field a new-look team this summer. Former captain Meg Lanning and Duffin have parted ways with the Stars appointing Australia leg-spinner Kristen Beams skipper for WBBL 3. The franchise has also confirmed three overseas signings, securing the services of South Africa batters Mignon du Preez and Lizelle Lee, alongside England allrounder Georgia Elwiss,

Squad: Kristen Beams (C), Makinley Blows, Hayleigh Brennan, Mignon du Preez (SA), Georgia Elwiss (Eng), Nicole Faltum, Emma Kearney, Alana King, Anna Lanning, Lizelle Lee (SA), Katie Mack, Erin Osborne, Gemma Triscari, Chloe Rafferty, Annabel Sutherland

In: Mignon du Preez, Georgia Elwiss, Lizelle Lee, Erin Osborne (Thunder), Nicole Faltum, Chloe Rafferty, Annabel Sutherland (Renegades)

Out: Jess Duffin (Renegades), Hayley Jenson (Renegades), Meg Lanning (Scorchers), Morna Neilsen, Natalie Sciver (Scorchers), Emma Inglis (Renegades), Lily Bardsley, Danielle Hazell

Perth Scorchers

The Scorchers have pulled off the biggest coup in WBBL history, luring Australia captain Lanning for the next three seasons. Lanning’s deal with the Scorchers will see her in orange until the end of the 2019-20 season, and while the world’s best batter has already been ruled out of WBBL season 3 due to the aforementioned shoulder surgery, the multi-year deal means Scorchers fans will have the chance to watch Lanning in action in WBBL 4 and 5. The Scorchers have also signed Australian batters Nicole Bolton and Elyse Villani to multi-year deals.

Squad: Ellyse Villani (C), Nicole Bolton, Katherine Brunt (Eng), Meg Lanning, Megan Banting, Mathilda Carmichael, Piepa Cleary, Lauren Ebsary, Heather Graham, Mikayla Hinkley, Emma King, Chloe Piparo, Natalie Sciver (Eng), Emily Smith, Katie Hartshorn

In: Mikayla Hinkley (Thunder), Meg Lanning (Stars), Natalie Sciver (Stars)

Out: Suzie Bates (Strikers), Emma Bliss, Anya Shrubshole

Overseas replacement player: Thamsyn Newton (NZ), for Meg Lanning (shoulder)

Sydney Sixers

The Sydney Sixers landed a major early blow on their local rivals, luring rising fast bowler Lauren Cheatle away from the Thunder. Cheatle is now the first player to sign a multi-year deal with the Sixers, committing to the reigning champions until the end of WBBL 5.

Allrounder Ashleigh Gardner has also confirmed she’ll remain in magenta this summer despite a move to South Australia in the 50-over Women’s National Cricket League.

Squad: Ellyse Perry (C), Sarah Aley, Erin Burns, Lauren Cheatle, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jodie Hicks, Marizanne Kapp, Carly Leeson, Emily Leys, Sara McGlashan, Ange Reakes, Lauren Smith, Dane Van Niekerk, Clara Iemma

In: Erin Burns (Hurricanes), Lauren Cheatle (Thunder), Clara Iemma

Out: Rhiannon Dick (Strikers), Lisa Sthalekar, Haylee Hoffmeister

Sydney Thunder

The Thunder locked in their signings of the off-season with up-and-coming leg-spinner Maisy Gibson back on board for WBBL 3, alongside two new faces in Hannah Trethewy and Hannah Darlington.

The club will be looking to fill at least four places on their list for the upcoming season after the departures of Cheatle and Osborne, while former Stef Daffara and Claire Koski have not been offered contracts for the upcoming season. But the Thunder are said to be confident of re-signing star internationals Harmanpreet Kaur and Stafanie Taylor, alongside skipper and Australian vice-captain Alex Blackwell.

Squad: Alex Blackwell (C), Sam Bates, Nicola Carey, Hannah Darlington, Maisy Gibson, Lisa Griffith, Rachael Haynes, Rachel Priest, Naomi Stalenberg, Harmanpreet Kaur, Rachel Trenaman, Hannah Trethewy, Belinda Vakarewa, Rene Farrell, Stafanie Taylor

In: Lisa Griffith, Rachel Priest (Renegades), Rachel Trenaman, Hannah Trethewy, Hannah Darlington

Out: Stef Daffara (Hurricanes), Mikayla Hinkley (Scorchers), Claire Koski (Renegades), Erin Osborne (Stars), Lauren Cheatle (Sixers)

Adelaide Strikers 

Following the retirements of Sarah Coyte and Charlotte Edwards, while Elliott has also retired, the Strikers have room for at least two new faces. The franchise has signed New Zealand superstar Sophie Devine for the summer.

Squad: Suzie Bates (C) (NZ), Rhiannon Dick, Annie O’Neil, Ellie Falconer, Tammy Beaumont (Eng), Sophie Devine (NZ), Megan Schutt, Amanda Wellington, Samantha Betts, Tahlia McGrath, Katelyn Pope, Alex Price, Tabatha Saville, Tegan McPharlin, Bridget Patterson

In: Suzie Bates (Scorchers), Rhiannon Dick (Sixers), Ellie Falconer, Annie O’Neill

Out: Sarah Coyte, Charlotte Edwards, Sarah Elliot, Shelley Nitschke (all retired)

Brisbane Heat

Brisbane have secured the services of Australian duo Beth Mooney and Jess Jonassen for the next three WBBL seasons. Mooney was the first confirmed signing from any club for WBBL 3, and the first female player to sign a multi-year Big Bash deal after the longer-term contracts were introduced for the WBBL as part of the new Memorandum of Understanding.

Mooney was named WBBL 2 player of the tournament last summer after scoring 482 runs at an average of 43.81, including five half-centuries. The wicketkeeper-batter also snared 12 dismissals behind the stumps including 10 stumpings, before translating that form into a successful run with the bat at the top of the order for Australia.

Squad: Kirby Short, Beth Mooney, Jess Jonassen, Grace Harris (inj), Deandra Dottin (WI), Holly Ferling, Kara Sutherland, Georgia Prestwidge, Delissa Kimmince, Jemma Barsby, Haidee Birkett, Sammy-Jo Johnson, Tess Cooper, Laura Harris, Courtney Hill, Laura Wolvaardt (SA)

In: Grace Harris (Renegades)

Out: Smriti Mandhana

Overseas replacement player: Laura Wolvaardt (SA), for Grace Harris (knee)