Cricket

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.

England's women cricketers will miss the latter stages of the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) due to a clash with their tour of South Africa. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has informed players that they are expected to join the national team in South Africa on specific dates, regardless of any overlap with WBBL games.This decision aims to avoid a repeat of the situation earlier this year, when the end of the Women's Premier League (WPL) overlapped with England's arrival in New Zealand for a bilateral series. Players were forced to choose between club and country.The ECB notified players and their agents of the requirements before the WBBL draft. England is scheduled to play three T20Is in South Africa starting November 24, followed by three ODIs from December 4 and a Test starting on December 15.Seven England players were signed in the WBBL draft, including Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Sophie Ecclestone, and Heather Knight. The ECB took a similar stance last year, with Bess Heath and Danielle Gibson missing the WBBL final to join England's squad in India.The WPL announced its 2024 fixtures in January, with the final falling two days before England's first T20I in New Zealand. New Zealand Cricket declined an ECB request to move the dates.Jonathan Finch, Director of England Women's Cricket, emphasized the need for better coordination between tournaments. He said the ECB is working on aligning the Women's Future Tours Program to avoid future clashes.Finch acknowledged the financial implications for players who may miss out on lucrative WPL contracts. However, he stressed that players signing central contracts with England are expected to prioritize international commitments.The ECB is also considering introducing multi-year central contracts to provide players with greater security. Finch believes this will reduce the need for case-by-case discussions about player availability.

The second Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) overseas draft witnessed a surge of Indian talent, with Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma headlining the platinum-round picks. Rodrigues reunited with Jess Jonassen at Brisbane Heat, while Deepti joined Melbourne Stars, where she will play alongside Meg Lanning.Hobart Hurricanes, with the first pick, drafted in Danni Wyatt after losing out on Sophie Ecclestone, Heather Knight, and Laura Wolvaardt to retention picks. Melbourne Renegades opted for Deandra Dottin in the platinum category, while Hayley Matthews was allocated a gold category as their second-round pick.Heat drafted in Shikha Pandey, marking her maiden WBBL season. Melbourne Stars also selected wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia as their third pick. Perth Scorchers, with Sophie Devine as their pre-signed captain, drafted in D Hemalatha, who has played alongside Beth Mooney at Gujarat Giants in the WPL.Adelaide Strikers' third pick was Ireland allrounder Orla Prendergast, who has captained Ireland in ODIs. Sydney Sixers, with Amelia Kerr as a gold-category pick, could have a potent spin-bowling combo with Ecclestone.The presence of six Indians in the WBBL is the most for an edition of the tournament. This influx of Indian talent highlights the growing strength of women's cricket in India and the WBBL's commitment to diversity and inclusion.

The Big Bash League (BBL) and Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) have released their respective lists of nominations for the upcoming draft, scheduled for September 1. The BBL list features 432 players, while the WBBL list includes 161 players.BBL Nominations:The Adelaide Strikers have retained Adam Hose, Jamie Overton, and David Payne. The Brisbane Heat have retained Paul Walter and Tom Banton. The Hobart Hurricanes have retained Corey Anderson and Sam Hain. The Melbourne Renegades have retained Joe Clarke, Jordan Cox, and Mujeeb Ur Rahman. The Melbourne Stars have retained Dan Lawrence, Imad Wasim, Liam Dawson, Olly Stone, Usama Mir, and Haris Rauf. The Perth Scorchers have retained Zak Crawley, Stephen Eskinazi, Laurie Evans, and Tymal Mills. The Sydney Sixers have retained Izharulhuq Naveed, Rehan Ahmed, and James Vince. The Sydney Thunder have retained Alex Hales, Zaman Khan, and Tom Kohler-Cadmore.WBBL Nominations:The Adelaide Strikers have retained Georgia Adams and Laura Wolvaardt. The Brisbane Heat have retained Bess Heath. The Hobart Hurricanes have retained Shabnim Ismail and Bryony Smit. The Melbourne Renegades have retained Eve Jones and Harmanpreet Kaur. The Melbourne Stars have retained Alice Capsey and Sophia Dunkley. The Perth Scorchers have retained Amy Jones, Lauren Winfield-Hill, and Danni Wyatt. The Sydney Sixers have retained Suzie Bates, Sophie Ecclestone, Jess Kerr, Chloe Tryon, and Linsey Smith. The Sydney Thunder have retained Heather Knight.

Defending Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) champions Adelaide Strikers have secured the services of Indian batting sensation Smriti Mandhana for the upcoming season. Mandhana, who has previously represented Brisbane Heat, Hobart Hurricanes, and Sydney Thunder in the WBBL, will be the Strikers' pre-draft signing.Mandhana's signing is a major coup for the Strikers, who have been keen to acquire her for several seasons. The left-handed opener is one of the most prolific batters in the world, having captained Royal Challengers Bengaluru to the inaugural Women's Premier League (WPL) title earlier this year.During her stint with Sydney Thunder in 2021, Mandhana showcased her exceptional batting prowess by smashing an unbeaten 114 off just 64 balls against Melbourne Renegades. This innings remains the joint second-highest individual score in WBBL history.Strikers head coach Luke Williams, who also coached Mandhana at Royal Challengers Bengaluru, expressed his delight at her signing. "Smriti is an exceptional talent, and we are thrilled to welcome her to the Strikers," Williams said. "Her technical skill, experience, and strategic insights are a tremendous asset for us."Mandhana's arrival could further strengthen the Strikers' already formidable top order, which includes South African captain Laura Wolvaardt. However, if Mandhana is allocated as the Strikers' first-round platinum player, they will not be able to use their retention rights for Wolvaardt in the same round.Ahead of the WBBL draft on September 1, the Strikers have also made a pick trade with Melbourne Renegades, acquiring picks 22 and 27 in exchange for picks 19 and 30. The Strikers now hold pick 6 in the first round and pick 14 in the second round.Other notable pre-draft signings in the WBBL include Nadine de Klerk (Brisbane Heat), Lizelle Lee (Hobart Hurricanes), Hayley Matthews (Melbourne Renegades), Marizanne Kapp (Melbourne Stars), Sophie Devine (Perth Scorchers), Amelia Kerr (Sydney Sixers), and Chamari Athapaththu (Sydney Thunder).

Paul Walter, the all-rounder who played a pivotal role in Brisbane Heat's BBL title triumph last season, is set to return to the competition after being nominated for next month's draft. Walter, a left-arm seamer and hard-hitting batter, became a fan favorite for Heat, claiming 17 wickets and earning a spot in the team of the tournament.Heat holds retention rights for Walter, giving them the option to bring him back if another team attempts to select him. Walter's full availability, including the finals, makes him a valuable asset for Heat, who boast a diverse bowling attack featuring Michael Neser, Xavier Bartlett, Spencer Johnson, and spin twins Matt Kuhnemann and Mitchell Swepson."I think we've got the best bowling unit in the competition," Walter said during last season's campaign. "I feel like I complement the rest of the attack quite well, and we've been good at managing games."English cricketers dominate the list of nominees, but most have limited availability due to England's Test series in New Zealand and limited-overs tour of India. However, players like Olly Stone, Dan Lawrence, Jordan Cox, and Joe Clarke are likely to attract interest. Legspinner Rehan Ahmed, who was initially drafted by Sydney Sixers last season but withdrew due to international commitments, has nominated again.Pakistan allrounder Imad Wasim, who Melbourne Stars have retention rights for, has full availability, as does slingy fast bowler Zaman Khan, who played for Sydney Thunder last season.In the WBBL, England players are also well-represented among the nominees. Dani Gibson, who played a crucial role in the Hundred final, impressed for Adelaide Strikers last season, striking at 147.43 and claiming 10 wickets. She has full availability, although England has a T20I series against South Africa that overlaps with the WBBL finals.South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt, who was initially nominated with full availability, now has availability of six to nine games. Strikers are the only club yet to name a pre-draft signing, but they are expected to fill that spot next week.

Lizelle Lee, the former South African international, has extended her stay with the Hobart Hurricanes for two more seasons, bolstering the team's batting lineup ahead of the upcoming WBBL draft. Lee, who retired from international cricket in 2022-23, has made Tasmania her permanent home and played a pivotal role in the Hurricanes' success last season.As the team's leading run-scorer with 409 runs at an impressive average of 37.18 and a strike rate of 146.07, Lee's contributions were instrumental in the Hurricanes' progress. Her unbeaten century against the Melbourne Renegades showcased her exceptional batting prowess.Lee expressed her enthusiasm for continuing her journey with the Hurricanes, stating, "I feel like the team made some strong progress last season, and I am looking forward to playing my role and natural game as we look to bring Tasmania and the Hurricanes their first WBBL trophy."Cricket Tasmania's general manager, Salliann Beams, hailed Lee's re-signing as a significant boost to the team. "With her and Junior at the top of our order, I think we have arguably the most experienced and talented opening pairing in the WBBL," she said. "She provided us with great versatility with our overseas pre-signing, and considering we had the number one pick in the WBBL draft, it made sense for us to pre-sign someone who we know can play a role for us."Beams further praised Lee's all-around abilities, highlighting her impact both with the bat and in the field. "She can change the game with the bat and in the field, having done so time and time again in international cricket for South Africa and in the WBBL," she added.Hurricanes' head coach Jude Coleman has indicated that the team will seek to strengthen their top four batting lineup during the draft. They also hold retention rights for South African quick bowler Shabnim Ismail, who claimed 13 wickets last season.With Lee's re-signing and the potential additions through the draft, the Hobart Hurricanes are poised to make a strong push for their maiden WBBL title in the upcoming season.

The Big Bash League (BBL) and Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) have released their initial batches of player nominations ahead of the upcoming drafts. Among the notable names is Shamar Joseph, who could return to the tournament where he made his triumphant Test debut.Joseph, who has been in impressive form for the West Indies, has nominated for the BBL draft. He could potentially join his former teammate Finn Allen, who has already signed with the Perth Scorchers.India captain Harmanpreet Kaur is among the first group of players confirmed for the WBBL draft. She could be retained by the Melbourne Renegades, who she has played for in the past. Other notable Indian players in the draft include Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma.England captain Heather Knight and left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone have also nominated for the WBBL draft. However, their availability for the entire tournament is uncertain due to England's tour of South Africa.Other notable retention options include Jamie Overton (Adelaide Strikers), Alex Hales (Sydney Thunder), James Vince (Sydney Sixers), Alice Capsey (Melbourne Stars), and Shabnim Ismail (Hobart Hurricanes).Players are drafted in either Platinum, Gold, Silver, or Bronze categories, and clubs must select at least two during the draft. Those signed under pre-draft agreements are allocated a pick that matches their salary band.The BBL and WBBL drafts will take place on September 1.

Sophie Devine, the dynamic New Zealand captain, has extended her stay with the Perth Scorchers in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) for another two seasons. This pre-draft signing ensures that Devine will continue to be a cornerstone of the Scorchers' lineup for the upcoming campaigns.Devine's retention by the Scorchers is a testament to her exceptional contributions to the team. In the previous season, she emerged as a pivotal figure, amassing 489 runs at an impressive average of 37.61. Her century against the Brisbane Heat showcased her batting prowess, while her 14 wickets highlighted her versatility as an all-rounder.Devine's impact extends beyond her on-field performances. She has forged strong connections with the players and staff at the Scorchers, creating a positive and supportive environment. "For me, coming back to Perth was a no brainer," Devine said. "I have built such a special connection with the players and staff over the past four seasons, and I couldn't imagine playing anywhere else."The Scorchers have yet to announce a new contract for Beth Mooney, the Australian opener who has been a key player for the team. However, it is widely expected that Mooney will remain with the club. The Scorchers have also bolstered their squad with the acquisition of Mikayla Hinkley from the Brisbane Heat during the off-season.Last season, the Scorchers fielded a formidable overseas contingent that included English trio Amy Jones, Nat Sciver-Brunt, and Lauren Winfield-Hill. However, Sciver-Brunt has indicated that she will not be participating in this season's WBBL due to the demanding international schedule.The WBBL is set to commence just seven days after the conclusion of the T20 World Cup, while England has a tour of South Africa that overlaps with the end of the tournament in late November.Devine's return to the Scorchers follows the recent signing of Chamari Athapaththu by the Sydney Thunder for a three-year deal. With only Adelaide Strikers and Hobart Hurricanes yet to announce pre-draft signings, the WBBL is shaping up to be another highly competitive season.