Strikers | Heat | Hurricanes | Renegades | Stars | Scorchers | Sixers | Thunder
After the Melbourne Renegades lifted the WBBL trophy for the first time in December, the league’s list managers are now busy plotting how their clubs will shape up for next season.
The inaugural Player Movement Window has been and gone with three players finding a new home for WBBL|11 during the 10-day period, and the contracting embargo has lifted, with clubs now able to sign further domestic players to their list for next season.
Hobart Hurricanes are also able to sign a maximum of one overseas player prior to the draft. Check out below how each club’s list is placed right now.
Here is where each team’s list stands – publicly, at least, given some teams may have re-signed players but have yet to make an announcement.
Adelaide Strikers
WBBL|10 result: Seventh (3 wins, 6 losses, 1 no result)
Coach: Luke Williams
Spots filled on contract list: 6
Contracted for WBBL|11: Darcie Brown (W|11), Anesu Mushangwe (W|11), Tahlia McGrath (c)(W|12), Maddie Penna (W|11), Megan Schutt (W|11), Amanda-Jade Wellington (W|11), Laura Wolvaardt (W|12)
Off contract: Jemma Barsby, Maggie Clark, Ellie Johnston, Eleanor Larosa, Katie Mack, Bridget Patterson
WBBL|10 overseas players: Smriti Mandhana (India), Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa), Orla Prendergast (Ireland)
The Strikers’ dreams of winning three consecutive titles were dashed with the defending champions well off the pace for much of the season. Most of their biggest stars remain under contract for WBBL|11, although Katie Mack and Bridget Patterson could catch the eye of rival clubs, while young quicks Maggie Clark and Eleanor Larosa could also be tempted by opportunities elsewhere after they couldn’t break into the Strikers XI this season. Laura Wolvaardt penned a deal for two more seasons as the club’s direct overseas signing.
Brisbane Heat
WBBL|10 result: Runner up (second)
Coach: Mark Sorell
Spots filled on contract list: 9
Contracted for WBBL|11: Nadine de Klerk (South Africa)(W|11), Sianna Ginger (W|11), Lucy Hamilton (W|11), Nicola Hancock (W|11), Grace Harris (W|11), Jess Jonassen (W|12), Charli Knott (W|11), Grace Parsons (W|11), Georgia Redmayne (W|11)
Ins: TBC Outs: Laura Harris (Thunder)
Off contract: Bonnie Berry, Lucy Bourke, Mikayla Wrigley
Other WBBL|10 overseas players: Shikha Pandey (India), Jemimah Rodrigues (India), Lauren Winfield-Hill (England – replacement player)
The Heat had filled their eight spots heading into the Player Movement Period, with two notable names remaining off contract: captain Jess Jonassen and big-hitter Laura Harris.
The Thunder duly swooped in and signed Harris, luring her away from the Heat after 10 years in teal, and leaving the Brisbane club needing to find a new middle-order power hitter.
But the Brisbane club was quick to re-sign Jonassen after the league’s contracting embargo lifted in March, securing the Big Bash’s most prolific bowler of all-time for another two seasons.
Hobart Hurricanes
WBBL|10 result: Eliminated from The Knockout (fourth)
Coach: Jude Coleman
Spots filled on contract list: 7
Contracted for WBBL|11: Heather Graham (W|11), Ruth Johnston (W|11), Lizelle Lee (W|12), Hayley Silver-Holmes (W|11), Lauren Smith (W|11), Molly Strano (W|11), Elyse Villani (W|11)
Off contract: Nicola Carey, Zoe Cooke, Tabatha Saville, Amy Smith, Rachel Trenaman, Callie Wilson
Other WBBL|10 overseas players: Chloe Tryon (South Africa), Danni Wyatt-Hodge (England), Suzie Bates (New Zealand – replacement player), Kathryn Bryce (Scotland – associate rookie)
The Hurricanes have confirmed seven of their spots for WBBL|11 and in a huge boost for the club, Lizelle Lee became an Australian permanent resident during the season and has now re-signed a fresh two-year deal as a local player, opening the door for an additional overseas player at the draft.
Melbourne Renegades
WBBL|10 result: Champions (first)
Coach: Simon Helmot
Spots filled on contract list: 5
Contracted for WBBL|11: Emma de Broughe (W|11), Tess Flintoff, Milly Illingworth (W|11), Hayley Matthews (W|12), Naomi Stalenberg (W|11)
Ins: Tess Flintoff (Stars) Outs: Ella Hayward, Georgia Prestwidge (both Stars)
Off contract: Sarah Coyte, Josie Dooley, Nicole Faltum, Sophie Molineux, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham, Courtney Webb
WBBL|10 overseas players: Alice Capsey (England), Deandra Dottin (West Indies), Linsey Smith (England – replacement player), Tara Norris (USA – associate rookie)
The reigning champions have already strengthened their list fresh off winning their first title, poaching exciting young allrounder Tess Flintoff from the Melbourne Stars, while West Indies superstar Hayley Matthews has signed a new two-year contract.
While they have a lengthy list of key players off contract, most of those are expected to re-sign. Ella Hayward and Georgia Prestwidge have departed, in a one-way trade to the Stars.
Melbourne Stars
WBBL|10 result: Eighth (2 wins, 7 losses, 1 NR)
Coach: Andrew Christie (new)
Spots filled on contract list: 10
Contracted for WBBL|11: Sophie Day (W|12), Kim Garth (W|11) Ella Hayward (W|11), Marizanne Kapp (South Africa)(W|12), Meg Lanning (W|11), Rhys McKenna (W|12), Ines McKeon (W|11), Georgia Prestwidge (W|11), Sophie Reid (W|11), Annabel Sutherland (W|11)
Ins: Ella Hayward, Georgia Prestwidge (both Renegades) Outs: Tess Flintoff (Renegades), Hasrat Gill (Thunder)
Off contract: Maisy Gibson, Liv Henry, Sasha Moloney
Other WBBL|10 overseas players: Yastika Bhatia (India), Deepti Sharma (India)
The Stars have got a few key pieces of the puzzle locked away for next season, including their new head coach, with Andrew Christie appointed to replace Englishman Jonathan Batty, whose contract wasn’t renewed after finishing on the bottom of the table last season. Kim Garth has re-signed for the upcoming summer, but they also have some questions to answer having lost Tess Flintoff and exciting young spin prospect Hasrat Gill during the player movement window.
They have added some depth with the signings of spin-bowling allrounder Ella Hayward and experienced pace bowler Georgia Prestwidge, who were traded across from Melbourne Renegades.
Perth Scorchers
WBBL|10 result: Fifth (4 wins, 5 losses, 1 tie)
Coach: Becky Grundy
Spots filled on contract list: 6
Contracted for WBBL|11: Chloe Ainsworth (W|12), Sophie Devine (New Zealand) (W|11), Amy Edgar (W|11), Mikayla Hinkley (W|11), Ebony Hoskin (W|12), Alana King (W|12), Beth Mooney (W|12)
Off contract: Stella Campbell, Piepa Cleary, Maddy Darke, Carly Leeson, Lilly Mills, Chloe Piparo
Other WBBL|10 overseas players: Dayalan Hemalatha (India), Amy Jones (England), Brooke Halliday (New Zealand – replacement player), Ni Made Putri Suwandewi (Indonesia – associate rookie)
Coach Becky Grundy said the club would require a review into their list after a series of dramatic batting collapses cost them a shot at finals. Their three biggest international stars plus the exciting Chloe Ainsworth are locked in for next season, but they may need to consider who fits in around them.
Have re-signed emerging swing bowler Ebony Hoskin for another two seasons after a breakout seven wickets in her first season for the club last summer.
Sydney Sixers
WBBL|10 result: Sixth (3 wins, 5 losses, 1 tie, 1 NR)
Coach: Matthew Mott (new)
Spots filled on contract list: 7
Contracted for WBBL|11: Caoimhe Bray (W|12), Maitlan Brown (W|11), Lauren Cheatle (W|11), Ashleigh Gardner (W|11), Alyssa Healy (W|11), Elsa Hunter (W|12), Amelia Kerr (New Zealand)(W|12), Courtney Sippel (W|12)
In: Elsa Hunter
Off contract: Erin Burns, Mathilda Carmichael, Isabella Malgioglio, Kate Pelle, Ellyse Perry, Kate Peterson
Other WBBL|10 overseas players: Hollie Armitage (England), Sophie Ecclestone (England), Sarah Bryce (Scotland – associate rookie)
Alyssa Healy’s injuries made life tough for the Sixers, while Erin Burns also missed the entire season, and both absences hurt the club. However, they will still be scratching their heads and wondering how one of the strongest lists in the league missed finals for the fifth time in six seasons. In good news, exciting teenager Caoimhe Bray is locked away long term, Melie Kerr is on a multi-year deal, and they have retention rights to Sophie Ecclestone.
Perry is off contract and would no doubt attract interest – but is there any chance she would ever leave the Sixers?
The club has also locked away 20-year-old young gun Elsa Hunter who played five games as a replacement player last season and impressed for NSW in the WNCL where she hit 93 against reigning champions Tasmania in December.
Sydney Thunder
WBBL|10 result: Third (Knocked out of The Challenger)
Coach: Lisa Keightley
Spots filled on contract list: 10
Contracted for WBBL|11: Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka)(W|12), Sam Bates (W|12), Hannah Darlington (W|13), Hasrat Gill, Laura Harris, Anika Learoyd (W|12), Phoebe Litchfield (W|13), Taneale Peschel (W|11), Georgia Voll (W|12), Tahlia Wilson (W|11)
Ins: Laura Harris (Heat), Hasrat Gill (Stars) Outs: TBC
Off contract: Ella Briscoe, Sienna Eve, Saskia Horley, Sammy-Jo Johnson, Claire Moore
Other WBBL|10 overseas players: Georgia Adams (England), Shabnim Ismail (South Africa), Heather Knight (England)
The Thunder were the big movers in the player movement period, signing powerful batter Laura Harris from the Heat and exciting young spinner Hasrat Gill from the Stars. Their additions only strengthen an already imposing list, with their talented local core locked away and Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu on a multi-year contract.
Their biggest call may come at the draft, if they are left with a choice between retaining Heather Knight or Shabnim Ismail.
