Cricket

The Adelaide Strikers dealt a significant blow to the Perth Scorchers' WBBL finals aspirations with a commanding 30-run victory at Karen Rolton Oval.The Strikers, who have won the past two WBBL titles, posted a competitive 169 for 6, thanks to contributions from Laura Wolvaardt (41), Smriti Mandhana (41), and Katie Mack (41).The Scorchers' chase got off to a disastrous start as Megan Schutt wreaked havoc with the new ball, dismissing Maddy Darke, Dayalan Hemalatha, and Amy Edgar in quick succession. Beth Mooney and Brooke Halliday attempted to salvage the innings, but the task proved too daunting.Schutt finished with impressive figures of 3 for 19, while Alana King claimed 3 for 29 for the Strikers.The victory lifted the Strikers from the bottom of the ladder to seventh place, while the Scorchers remain in fifth spot with two games remaining. However, the Scorchers' run rate deficit to fourth-placed Hobart Hurricanes makes their finals chances appear slim.

Alice Capsey has been called up to England Women's T20I squad for their tour of South Africa, replacing an injured player. Capsey was initially omitted from the touring party due to a recent batting slump, but her impressive performances in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) have earned her a belated recall.Capsey's inclusion in the squad is a testament to her all-round abilities. Despite her struggles with the bat in recent months, she has been a standout performer with the ball in the WBBL, taking 13 wickets in eight innings. Her economy rate of 7.21 and best figures of 5 for 25 against the Perth Scorchers highlight her effectiveness as a bowler.England's decision to recall Capsey is also a reflection of the team's injury concerns. While the team has not disclosed the nature of the injuries, they have confirmed that several players are experiencing "minor niggles." Capsey's versatility as a batter and bowler makes her a valuable addition to the squad, providing cover for any potential absences.Capsey's recall is a boost for England, who are looking to bounce back from a disappointing T20 World Cup campaign. The team failed to reach the knockout stages of the tournament, and Capsey's struggles with the bat were a contributing factor. However, her recent form in the WBBL suggests that she has regained her confidence and is ready to make a significant contribution to the team.England will face South Africa in three T20Is, three ODIs, and a Test match during their tour. The T20I series begins on November 24 in East London, and Capsey will be hoping to make an immediate impact on her return to the international stage.

Brisbane Heat's 18-year-old sensation Lucy Hamilton etched her name into WBBL history on Sunday, becoming the youngest player to claim a five-wicket haul. The Bundaberg native, who skipped schoolies' week to join her team, played a pivotal role in Heat's crucial six-wicket victory over the Melbourne Stars.Hamilton's remarkable performance began in the first over, where she dismissed both Annabel Sutherland and Yastika Bhatia. Her impressive spell continued as she trapped Meg Lanning lbw and had Tess Flintoff caught driving on the up. The left-armer completed her historic haul by trapping Deepti Sharma lbw, becoming the first Heat bowler to achieve the feat in the WBBL.Hamilton's figures of 5 for 8 are the equal-second best in the competition's 10-year history, trailing only Megan Schutt's 6 for 19. Her performance was all the more impressive considering she had not taken a wicket in her previous eight WBBL matches."All my mates are at schoolies at the moment, on the Goldy living it up," said Hamilton after the match. "Going out there today I was just trying to back myself. Getting my first wicket and getting 5-fa, all the girls were getting around me. It was really exciting. I've had to be patient, played a few games, and it finally came and was really thrilling."Heat's batters made light work of the chase, with Jemimah Rodrigues and Charlie Knott leading the way. Rodrigues smashed 45 from 31, including two big sixes, before being deceived by a Sutherland slower ball. Heat reached the target with 15 balls to spare, moving back up into third on the ladder.The win was Heat's third straight, while Stars' season is now almost over with just two wins from seven matches. Hamilton's performance was a major highlight for Heat, who will be hoping to continue their winning ways in the coming weeks.

Alyssa Healy's hopes of playing in Australia's upcoming ODI series against India are hanging in the balance after she was ruled out of the remainder of the WBBL with a knee injury.The Sydney Sixers captain sustained the injury to her left knee during the team's last-start loss to the Brisbane Heat. The injury is not believed to be serious enough to rule her out of the multi-format Ashes, which begin on January 12, but it does cast doubt on her availability for the three-match ODI series against India, which starts just four days after the WBBL final.Healy has been battling injuries throughout the summer, having entered the WBBL with a foot injury that ended her T20 World Cup campaign early. She also missed the Sixers' last match due to body management.The injury is a significant blow to the Sixers, who are now facing the prospect of needing to win their last three matches to make the WBBL finals. If Healy does miss the international matches, Tahlia McGrath would be expected to deputise as captain again after doing so in the World Cup.Healy's injury highlights the challenges faced by female athletes in managing their workload during a busy summer schedule. The Australian captain has been open about the need to manage her pain and function throughout the summer, and it remains to be seen whether she will be able to play in all of the upcoming matches.

Adelaide Strikers emerged victorious in their WBBL clash against Hobart Hurricanes, securing a 38-run win at Adelaide Oval. The victory snapped a five-match losing streak for the defending champions, who are still placed last in the standings.Madeline Penna played a pivotal role for the Strikers, scoring a crucial 60 off 40 deliveries. Her innings, which included six fours and two sixes, helped the Strikers post a competitive total of 140 for 7.In response, the Hurricanes' batting lineup faltered, with only Elyse Villani (44 off 39) managing to make a significant contribution. Tahlia McGrath, the Strikers' captain, led the bowling attack with an impressive 4 for 13, while Megan Schutt and Anesu Mushangwe chipped in with two wickets each.The Hurricanes' innings collapsed dramatically after they reached 63 for 1 in the ninth over. They lost nine wickets for just 39 runs, handing the Strikers a much-needed victory.Penna expressed her delight after the match, stating, "It's been a long time coming, and it's so good we can get a win. To get it at home in front of our fans is so nice."McGrath also shared her excitement, saying, "It's been a really tough season. We haven't quite been up to our standard, and cricket is a brutal game when you're not at your standards."Despite their victory, the Strikers remain at the bottom of the table with a 2-6 record. However, the win provides a glimmer of hope for the defending champions as they look to salvage something from the season.

Melbourne Renegades emerged victorious in a thrilling nine-run WBBL clash against local rivals Melbourne Stars, thanks to a career-best knock from Nicole Faltum and Sarah Coyte's clutch bowling in the dying moments.Faltum's unbeaten 66 off 42 deliveries propelled the Renegades to a competitive 170 for 6 at the MCG. The wicketkeeper-batter's innings was a masterclass in power-hitting, as she smashed six boundaries and two maximums.The Stars' chase got off to a shaky start as Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin stifled their scoring rate. However, Rhys McKenna and Tess Flintoff threatened to turn the tide with some quickfire batting.But Coyte's ice-cool bowling proved to be the difference-maker. She dismissed both McKenna and Flintoff in the penultimate over, leaving the Stars needing 18 runs off the final six balls. Matthews' valiant effort wasn't enough to secure victory, as the Renegades held on for a crucial win.Faltum's partnership with Georgia Wareham (34) was instrumental in setting up the Renegades' victory. The duo added 67 runs for the sixth wicket, a new WBBL record for runs added after the fall of the fifth wicket.The result sees the Renegades climb to second spot on the ladder with a 5-3 record, while the Stars' playoff hopes hang in the balance at 2-4.Faltum's performance was a testament to the Renegades' unwavering belief in their abilities. "There is just this belief amongst the group that we can win from anywhere," she said. "We didn't win our first two games but we still believed that we were right on task."

Sydney Thunder's Georgia Voll emerged as the hero in a thrilling seven-wicket victory over Perth Scorchers at the MCG, propelling her team back to the summit of the WBBL standings.Despite dropping five catches, Thunder's bowlers managed to restrict Scorchers to 170 for 5, with Beth Mooney leading the charge with a blistering 97 from 64 deliveries. However, Voll stole the show with an unbeaten 97 from 56 balls, guiding Thunder to victory with just one over remaining.Voll's innings was a masterclass in power-hitting, featuring 13 fours and a six. It surpassed her previous best of 92 against Adelaide Strikers earlier this month. The 21-year-old attributed her success to taking inspiration from Hobart Hurricanes opener Lizelle Lee's recent record-breaking performances."I watched Lizelle Lee bat the other day and noticed that I've been trying to go a little bit hard too early," Voll said. "I sort of just took my time a little bit more and took the strike off Atha [Chamari Athapaththu] at the start there as well. It was just sort of lucky to come off."Voll's 64-run partnership with Heather Knight proved crucial for Thunder. Knight's dismissal by Amy Edgar gave Scorchers hope, but Voll remained unyielding, finding support from Anika Learoyd to guide her team home.Mooney's innings was equally impressive, despite the dropped catches. She was put down three times before reaching 20 and again after scoring a half-century. Sophie Devine also contributed with 44 runs, but her dismissal by Taneale Peschel and Mooney's lbw dismissal to Shabnim Ismail in the final over proved costly for Scorchers.Peschel finished with figures of 3-28, while Ismail claimed 1-32.

The Big Bash League (BBL) and Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) have implemented significant changes to their player acquisition and management systems. These changes include the introduction of a new trade window and adjustments to the contracting embargo period.Trade Window:A 10-day trade window, known as the player movement window, has been established. This window will allow clubs to make changes to their rosters after the conclusion of both competitions. During this period, clubs can:* Trade players with other clubs* Sign players from other clubs who are in the final year of their contracts* Trade overseas draft positionsPreviously, player signings were prohibited outside the embargo window. However, the new trade window provides clubs with greater flexibility and the opportunity to address roster needs.Contracting Embargo Period:The contracting embargo period, during which no players can be signed, has been modified. It will now begin after the home-and-away portion of each tournament instead of after the final. This change allows clubs to make roster decisions earlier in the season.Squad Sizes:Clubs must adhere to specific squad sizes during the trade window. For the WBBL, the maximum squad size is eight players before the trade window and 10 afterwards. For the BBL, the corresponding numbers are 10 and 12. Overseas players signed on multi-year deals count towards these squad sizes.Impact on Player Movement:The new trade window and contracting embargo period are expected to have a significant impact on player movement. Clubs will have more opportunities to acquire players and fill roster gaps. Additionally, players will have greater flexibility in negotiating contracts and exploring different team options.Strategic Dimension:"The introduction of Player Movement Windows immediately following the WBBL|10 and BBL|14 seasons will add another strategic dimension to our Leagues," said Alistair Dobson, the executive general manager of Big Bash Leagues. "The windows will add certainty and stability for players and clubs at a crucial period in the list management cycle."