The cream of England’s T20 cricket talent has thrown their names into the hat for the inaugural WBBL draft, as revealed today by officials of the league.
A group of ten top-tier English cricketers have emerged as the latest entrants in the debut Weber WBBL draft. The list showcases a blend of batting and bowling prowess, headlined by England captain Heather Knight and leading T20 bowler Sophie Ecclestone.
The roster also includes some familiar names in the cricketing circuit. Notably, despite missing last season due to injury, Knight is still eligible for consideration by the Sydney Thunder for a retention pick, potentially marking her seventh WBBL season.
Sophie Ecclestone made a significant impact in her first WBBL season with the Sydney Sixers last year, clinching 20 wickets en route to the final.
Putting the Strikers in a spin: England star Ecclestone’s prowess
In the bowling department, a trio of formidable bowlers – Sarah Glenn, Issy Wong, and Lauren Bell – have all thrown their hats into the ring. Glenn’s last appearance in the WBBL was in 2020, where she claimed 17 wickets in 14 matches for the Perth Scorchers.
Retaining Wong presents an opportunity for the Hobart Hurricanes, who had secured the young talent last season, only to see her withdraw due to an injury just before the tournament.
Bell, yet to make her WBBL debut, is eager to make her presence felt.
Claiming crucial wickets: Issy Wong’s impressive skill
Top-order batter Tammy Beaumont, who made waves with a Test century in the recent women’s Ashes series but was omitted from England’s T20 squad, is eyeing a comeback. The Sydney Thunder possess the retention option for her.
Distinguished short-format batting star Danielle Wyatt is in the mix, seeking a draft selection with the Brisbane Heat, who have the choice to retain her. Meanwhile, the Melbourne Stars hold similar options for both Lauren Winfield-Hill and Alice Capsey, both of whom have thrown their names into contention.
Emma Lamb completes the roster of England’s nominations, eagerly aiming for her first WBBL contract.
A major shakeup is in store for the league with the upcoming overseas draft, scheduled for September 3. The televised event, aligned with the second KFC BBL draft, is poised to recalibrate the distribution of foreign talents among the teams. Each club is limited to one retention pick, diverging from the previous model where clubs negotiated directly with international players.
In a notable shift, all overseas players aiming to participate in the tournament must now nominate for the draft. This new system will have clubs taking turns to cherry-pick the players they desire for WBBL|09.
By – Sahiba Suri