Eight of England’s Ashes heroes have put their names forward for the ninth edition of Women’s Big Bash League, with Cricket Australia revealing another batch of nominations ahead of next month’s Overseas Player Draft.
England captain Heather Knight, who missed last season’s WBBL due to injury, headlines a fresh flock of nominees for the inaugural Draft, which is scheduled for September 3.
Spinner Sophie Ecclestone, currently No. 1 on the ICC Women’s T20I bowling rankings, and Ashes double-centurion Tammy Beaumont have also thrown their hat in the ring, along with rising star Alice Capsey.
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The Sydney Thunder, who finished bottom of last season’s WBBL ladder, face the daunting task of choosing between Knight and Beaumont for their retention pick.
Beaumont, who scored a double-century in June’s Ashes Test at Trent Bridge, recently became the first woman to reach triple figures in The Hundred, smacking 118 (61) against the Trent Rockets in Cardiff on Monday. However, Knight was the Thunder’s leading run-scorer during the club’s triumphant 2020 campaign with 446 runs as 40.54.
Meanwhile, the Sixers will almost certainly snap up Ecclestone’s services with their retention pick – the England tweaker claimed 20 wickets at 17.90 in last year’s WBBL, helping the powerhouse franchise reach the final.
Teenager Capsey, an eligible retention pick for the Melbourne Stars, has quickly developed into one of cricket’s most destructive young batters, showcasing her big-hitting potential during the recent Ashes campaign.
“She’s naturally looking to take on the game — even when the field is out, she’s still trying to hit it over their heads,” former Australian vice-captain Rachael Haynes told Fox Cricket last month.
“It’s really exciting to watch … she’s going to be a really important player for many years to come in that England line-up, and she’ll probably drag some players with her, encouraging the wider group to take the game on.”
A cluster of other Ashes competitors, including spinner Sarah Glenn, seamer Lauren Bell, opener Emma Lamb and batter Danielle Wyatt, will also go under the hammer next month.
Glenn, currently sitting at No. 4 in the ICC Women’s T20I Bowling rankings, previously represented the Perth Scorchers in 2020, while Bell is hoping to make her maiden WBBL appearance this summer.
Former England opener Lauren Winfield-Hill, currently plying her trade in The Hundred, has also nominated for the WBBL Draft along with exciting quick Issy Wong, who is eligible for retention with the Hobart Hurricanes despite missing last season’s campaign due to injury.
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“We are extremely excited by these nominations,” Alistair Dobson, Cricket Australia’s General Manager of Big Bash Leagues, said in a statement.
“We saw the immense strength and depth of talent the English side has in the Women’s Ashes series earlier in the year, and we are excited so many of those players, including their captain, have put their names forward for consideration in the WBBL Overseas Player Draft.
“With less than three weeks until the Draft, the anticipation is growing, and we know our domestic players and clubs alike are keen to see which top international talent will be Drafted to their team lists.”