Hobart Hurricanes Secure Top Pick in WBBL Draft

The Hobart Hurricanes have secured the first pick in the upcoming Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) draft, following a weighted lottery that favored teams that missed the finals in the 2023-24 season. The Hurricanes, Sydney Sixers, Melbourne Renegades, and Melbourne Stars, who all failed to reach the playoffs, were given the first four picks, followed by the four teams that made the postseason.

Despite finishing in the bottom two last season, the Melbourne teams were unable to secure the top pick, which went to the Hurricanes. The Hurricanes had a strong draft last year, selecting Shabnim Ismail, Bryony Smith, and Lizelle Lee as a direct nomination.

The Perth Scorchers, who were eliminated in the Challenger, will have the last pick in rounds one, two, and four of the draft. However, the order will be reversed in round three. Clubs can trade picks, so the order may change before the draft takes place in September.

Last season, the Sydney Thunder used their first pick to select South Africa allrounder Marizanne Kapp as a platinum player, while the Scorchers opted not to use their retention option. This year, clubs can sign up to four overseas players, including those who join under the new multi-year pre-draft option. New Zealand's Amelia Kerr became the first player to sign under this system, joining the Sixers after leaving the Brisbane Heat.

The pre-draft option essentially replaces the direct nominations system used last year. If clubs sign a fourth overseas player, they will become the first overseas replacement. The draft will again feature four price bands: platinum (AU$110,000), gold (AU$90,000), silver (AU$65,000), and bronze (AU$40,000).

Next season's WBBL has been reduced to a 40-game regular season to manage the workload of players and boost attendance. The tournament is expected to start shortly after the conclusion of the Women's T20 World Cup in Bangladesh, which ends on October 20.

Given the proximity of the World Cup to the WBBL season, it remains to be seen how many of the world's leading players will commit to the tournament in Australia.

Tags: #WBBL, #Draft, #HobartHurricanes, #SydneySixers, #MelbourneRenegades