Cricket

Danni Wyatt-Hodge, England's prolific batter, has made a significant move by transferring her allegiance from Southern Vipers to Surrey for the inaugural Women's Tier 1 county competition in 2025. This decision marks a new chapter in her illustrious career, which has spanned over a decade and witnessed numerous accolades.Wyatt-Hodge, 33, has been a cornerstone of the England women's team since her debut in 2010. With 278 international appearances, she has amassed over 5,000 runs across all formats. Her exceptional performances in T20Is have earned her the distinction of being England's all-time leading run-scorer in the format, with 2,979 runs at an impressive strike rate of 127.85.Her move to Surrey reunites her with England teammates Sophia Dunkley and Alice Capsey. Wyatt-Hodge expressed her excitement about joining the club, stating, "I am both excited and honored to be joining Surrey. The club has an incredible history with a culture of success, which I want to contribute to."Emma Calvert, Surrey's Director of Women's Cricket, hailed Wyatt-Hodge's signing as a major coup for the club. "Danni's career speaks for itself, and we believe she will add strength and depth on the field as well as adding to the team off the field," Calvert said.Wyatt-Hodge's decision to join Surrey is a testament to the club's growing stature in women's cricket. The South East Stars, Surrey's women's team, have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in recent years, winning the Charlotte Edwards Cup in 2022.Wyatt-Hodge's experience and leadership will be invaluable to Surrey as they aim to challenge for silverware in the new Women's Tier 1 competition. Her aggressive batting style and ability to score runs at a rapid pace will be a major asset to the team.

Hobart Hurricanes' record-breaking chase of 174 against Brisbane Heat on Saturday marked a significant moment in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL). England batter Danni Wyatt-Hodge played a pivotal role in the victory, smashing 62 runs off just 35 deliveries.Heat's innings was anchored by Grace Harris' 75, who opened the batting for Australia in the recent World Cup. However, Hurricanes' bowlers managed to restrict Heat to a total of 173 for 5.Wyatt-Hodge and fellow opener Lizelle Lee set the tone for Hurricanes' chase with a blistering 55-run partnership in the opening six overs. Wyatt-Hodge continued to dominate the innings, hitting six fours and three sixes.Despite losing Lee for 38, Wyatt-Hodge remained unfazed and rallied her team. She was eventually dismissed by legspinner Grace Parsons, but not before leaving Hurricanes with a manageable target of 33 runs from the final three overs.Elyse Villani's reverse-swept boundary in the final over sealed the victory for Hurricanes, who secured a seven-wicket win with two balls remaining.Wyatt-Hodge's performance earned her the player-of-the-match award, while Parsons' economical spell of 1 for 15 kept Heat in the contest.The victory ended Heat's undefeated start to the WBBL season and marked a record-breaking day for Hurricanes. Their previous best WBBL chase came in October 2021, when they hauled in a target of 145 against Melbourne Stars.

Danni Wyatt-Hodge, the prolific English batter, has made a significant move ahead of the upcoming Women's Premier League (WPL) season. She has been traded from UP Warriorz (UPW) to the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The trade sees Wyatt-Hodge join a star-studded RCB squad that includes the likes of Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, and Sophie Devine.Wyatt-Hodge, 33, is a seasoned campaigner with an impressive international record. She is the third-most capped player in T20Is worldwide, having represented England in 164 matches. Her batting prowess is evident in her tally of 2979 runs at an average of 22.91 and a strike rate of 127.85, including two centuries and 16 half-centuries.Despite her impressive credentials, Wyatt-Hodge went unsold in the first WPL auction in December 2023. However, she was picked up by UPW ahead of the second season but did not feature in any matches as the team failed to qualify for the playoffs.Wyatt-Hodge's recent performances at the T20 World Cup have showcased her continued form. She emerged as England's leading run-scorer in the tournament, amassing 151 runs at an average of 50.33 and a strike rate of 124.79.The trade to RCB provides Wyatt-Hodge with an opportunity to showcase her skills on a bigger stage. RCB, under the leadership of Smriti Mandhana, will be aiming to defend their WPL title and will be counting on Wyatt-Hodge's experience and batting prowess to bolster their lineup.

New Zealand cricket legend Suzie Bates has joined the Hobart Hurricanes for the latter stages of the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL). The 37-year-old all-rounder, who has played over 100 WBBL matches for three different teams, was not selected in this year's draft.Bates' signing comes as a replacement for England's Danni Wyatt-Hodge, who is expected to join her national team for a tour of South Africa. Wyatt-Hodge's departure would have left a significant void in the Hurricanes' lineup, but Bates' experience and versatility will help fill that gap.With 167 T20I appearances to her name, Bates is one of the most experienced players in the world. She is also the all-time leading run-scorer in women's T20Is, with over 3,000 runs to her credit.Hurricanes general manager Salliann Beams expressed her delight at Bates' signing, saying, "Bringing Suzie into our WBBL squad just made sense. She provides more than 130 games of T20I cricket and will give us an experienced operator when we lose someone of Danni's ability in our line-up."Bates will join a Hurricanes squad that already boasts international stars Chloe Tryon and Lizelle Lee. The team will be hoping to make a deep run in the WBBL playoffs, and Bates' addition will undoubtedly boost their chances.