WBBL 2021-22: Perth Scorchers rope in Alana King, re-sign Sophie Devine

Perth Scorchers have re-signed hard-hitting New Zealand batter, Sophie Devine, for the seventh edition of Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL). During the last edition, the skipper Devine had a terrific run with the Scorchers as she managed to form a formidable opening combination with Beth Mooney at the top. Apart from that, her useful medium-pace bowling proved handy for the Scorchers.

She will yet again don the orange jersey and might prove instrumental in taking the Scorchers to their first-ever final. Apart from re-signing Devine, the Scorchers have also signed promising young leg-spinner Alana King for two years. King had a fantastic tournament last edition for Melbourne Stars as she was their highest wicket-taker. Her spell of 3 for 16 in the semi-final against Scorchers was instrumental in Stars reaching the final in the sixth edition of WBBL.

Now, she is back with the Scorchers and her role will be reversed a but this time around, as she has to plot against her former teammates and help Scorchers break the trophy drought.

“There’s a running joke now with some of the WA people that I owe them one after what happened in the semi-final last year,” a laughing King told cricket.com.au.

“Last year gave me a good taste of what it’s like to be in the final and I’m sure all the girls at the Scorchers will be hungry to get past the semi-final and into the final.”

Perth Scorchers will finally aim to end the trophy-drought

The perennial underachievers of the WBBL will now look to finally break the jinx and go to the finals for the first time. Last year to they ended up as semi-finalists but this year with the inclusion of King among the mix, the Scorchers’ spin department looks good. Sarah Glenn is another promising England leg-spinner in the squad and the duo will look to get as many wickets as possible in the middle overs.

King is excited to working with Devine and Mooney and will look to learn a lot. “Playing with Sophie (Devine) and Moons (Beth Mooney), two very good international players (was another factor), it was also just time for a change.