In an exciting development for Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) fans, Melbourne Renegades have retained the Indian women’s team white-ball skipper, Harmanpreet Kaur, in the WBBL overseas draft held on September 3. This marks her second season with the franchise, showcasing her valuable presence.
Also Read: Harmanpreet Kaur’s Controversy and Potential Ban Shake Team India
Renegades, keeping an eye on team dynamics, chose West Indies all-rounder Hayley Matthews as their first draft pick. Matthews had previously led the Renegades in the latter stages of WBBL 2022, primarily as a backup for the injured Sophie Molineux. Interestingly, Harmanpreet, placed in the platinum category, was secured by Melbourne Renegades with the 10th overall pick, eliminating the need for a retention card.
Harmanpreet Kaur, the sole Indian player among the 18 drafted, boasts an impressive WBBL record. Having participated in 48 WBBL matches since 2016, she has accumulated 1,119 runs at a striking rate of 121.63, complemented by six half-centuries.
Harmanpreet’s journey with Renegades began in 2021, and in her debut season, she earned the prestigious title of Player of the Tournament in WBBL 2021. During that campaign, the middle-order batter notched up 406 runs in 12 innings at a striking rate of 130.96, solidifying her status as a match-winner.
It’s worth noting that Harmanpreet had to sit out WBBL 2022 due to a back injury, and Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu took her place in the Renegades’ lineup. However, her return to the squad for the upcoming season is highly anticipated.
Melbourne Renegades women’s head coach Simon Helmot expressed his delight at securing both Harmanpreet and Hayley, highlighting the tough decision they faced in the draft. He noted, “It was a tough decision — do we go Harmanpreet at pick three, or do we go Hayley? Fortunately, it worked out for us that Harmanpreet was still available in the second round, so we could still get her as a Platinum pick.”
In the WBBL draft for the ninth season, star South African all-rounder Marizanne Kapp was selected as the first pick by Sydney Thunder. Despite having the option to retain Kapp, Perth Scorchers decided to retain their captain, Sophie Devine, instead, in a move that reflects their emphasis on leadership.
Marizanne Kapp, known for her exceptional all-round abilities, will now represent her third WBBL team after stints with Sydney Sixers and the Scorchers. Perth Scorchers’ efforts to secure Devine with pick two were thwarted when the Scorchers exercised their retention card.
Explaining the decision to retain Devine over Kapp in the WBBL draft, Scorchers coach Bec Grundy revealed, “Honestly, we’ve oscillated between the two individuals over a considerable duration. These are two exceptional athletes who played vital roles in securing our inaugural championship victory in 2021. However, when it boiled down to it, the differentiating factor was their capacity for leadership and their suitability for the role of captain, which holds immense significance in the realm of T20 cricket. Regrettably, we are deeply saddened by Marizanne’s departure from the team.
The WBBL overseas draft for the 2023-24 season saw teams making strategic picks to bolster their squads, setting the stage for another exciting season of women’s T20 cricket.
Here are the overseas draft picks for the participating teams:
- Adelaide Strikers: Danielle Gibson, Laura Wolvaardt
- Brisbane Heat: Amelia Kerr, Bess Heath
- Hobart Hurricanes: Bryony Smith, Shabnim Ismail
- Melbourne Renegades: Harmanpreet Kaur, Hayley Matthews
- Melbourne Stars: Alice Capsey, Maia Bouchier
- Perth Scorchers: Dannielle Wyatt, Sophie Devine (retained)
- Sydney Sixers: Chloe Tryon, Jess Kerr
- Sydney Thunder: Heather Knight, Lauren Bell, Marizanne Kapp
