WBBL 07 is down and we couldn’t be more excited. One of the greatest T20 leagues will feature eight Indians this year. Although the competition will miss a lot of English stars, there are a few England emerging talents who can make heads turn in this tournament.
Last year:
Sydney Thunder went on to win their 2nd title by beating Melbourne Stars by seven wickets. Stars managed only 86 from their 20 overs as Sammy Jo Johnson picked up 2 for 11. While chasing, Thunder took almost 14 overs to win the game and it was England captain Heather Knight who finished the game for the Thunder.
However, this year, teams will miss most of the England stars. For Thunder, Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma will be filling in that role.
WBBL 07 Teams-2021
Adelaide Strikers
Megan Schutt, who missed out on the AUS vs IND series, will be back to the Strikers and she will be accompanied by current Australian internationals Darcie Brown, Tahlia McGrath, Amanda-Jade Wellington.
The team will miss out on their skipper Suzie Bates and Stafanie Taylor for the season. Thankfully for them, South African skipper Dane van Niekerk was available at the right moment. She is fresh from leading Oval Invincibles to the title and will be keen to go strong here. Laura Wolvaardt is yet another marquee player who will be a part of Strikers once again.
All eyes will be on Tahlia McGrath. She is coming into the tournament after taking down India in the recent multi-format series.
Apart from McGrath, Sarah Coyte, Meagan Dixon and Bridget Patterson could turn vital for the team.
Adelaide Strikers squad for WBBL 07
Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown, Tahlia McGrath, Dane van Niekerk (SA), Laura Wolvaardt (SA), Jemma Barsby, Nell Bryson-Smith, Sarah Coyte, Meagan Dixon, Katie Mack, Tegan McPharlin, Bridget Patterson, Maddie Penna, Annie O’Neil, Amanda-Jade Wellington
Brisbane Heat
Jess Jonassen is back and is fully fit to lead the Heat once again. Last year, they had lost Beth Mooney and then Sammy-Jo Johnson and they had moved on. This year, the team will miss out Amelie Kerr who has taken a break from cricket.
However, the team has brought in, India’s leading wicket-taker in T20I format- Poonam Yadav. That being said, most of the teams have found out Poonam’s technique and she has gone wicketless multiple times this year.
Nadine de Klerk and Anneke Bosch can offer that stability to the line-up while Grace Harris and Laura Kimmince can provide the attacking hand. Georgia Redmayne is a part to watch out for here. She was the star in the WNCL, got into Australian squad recently.
Brisbane Heat squad for WBBL 07
Jess Jonassen (c), Anneke Bosch (SA), Nadine de Klerk (SA), Poonam Yadav (Ind), Zoe Cooke, Nicola Hancock, Grace Harris, Laura Kimmince, Mikayla Hinkley, Charli Knott, Georgia Prestwidge, Georgia Redmayne, Courtney Sippel, Georgia Voll
Hobart Hurricanes
Led by experienced Rachel Priest, Hurricanes looks better than they were in the last season. The previous season was worse for the team as they finished in the eighth spot. This year, they will be glad to have Tayla Vlaeminck back on the team. The pacer had missed the entire season last time. Also, Maisy Gibson is back into the team after missing out on the last season.
One of the best trade for them is Molly Strano, the WBBL’s leading wicket-taker.
Belinda Vakarewa and Tayla Vlaeminck will be ready to trouble the batters with the new ball once again. They shared 30 wickets in the WBBL 05.
Nicola Carey looked in good touch in India series recently and to add weightage to the batting, the team has Mignon du Preez and India’s Richa Ghosh. The latter’s inclusion is an exciting one both for her as well as the team. While it could go either way, it is certainly going to be an interesting option.
Hobart Hurricanes squad for WBBL 07
Rachel Priest (NZ)Ic), Nicola Carey, Tayla Vlaeminck, Mignon du Preez (SA), Richa Ghosh (Ind), Angelina Genford, Maisy Gibson, Ruth Johnston, Sasha Moloney, Chloe Rafferty, Amy Smith, Molly Strano, Naomi Stalenberg, Rachel Trenaman (injured), Belinda Vakarewa
Melbourne Renegades
Renegades ended their last season at number seven. However, this year, a lot will be different for them, including the change in the coach, squad.
Firstly, Simon Helmot will be coaching the team this year. He had recently won CPL 2021 with St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.
Secondly, there is a new captain and vice-captain. Sophie Molineux will be leading the side with the assistance of Georgia Wareham.
Apart from all these, the team has brought in Jemimah Rodrigues who made heads turn in The Hundred. Along with Rodrigues, the team also has brought in Harmanpreet Kaur. No matter how good or bad her form is, Kaur is always a dangerous candidate. Eve Jones, who literally ruled the England domestic season this year, will be a part of the team as well.
The team will have Jess Duffin back and that will stabilize their line-up. The inclusion of Holly Ferling could prove vital too.
Melbourne Renegades squad for WBBL 07
Sophie Molineux* (c), Georgia Wareham*, Eve Jones (Eng), Harmanpreet Kaur (Ind), Jemimah Rodrigues (Ind), Makinley Blows, Josie Dooley, Jess Duffin, Ellen Falconer, Holly Ferling, Poppy Gardner, Ella Hayward, Carly Leeson, Rhiann O’Donnell, Courtney Webb
Melbourne Stars
Meg Lanning and Elyse Villani will be a part of a young but super talented group who can spring a surprise if everything comes together.
Their money will be on Annabel Sutherland and Tess Flintoff among the local talents. The team also has included Maia Bouchier who did well in this year’s domestic season. She even got a call to the England squad and had played a couple of matches too.
Apart from Bouchier, another England player to watch out for is Linsey Smith. The 26-year-old could be the secret weapon for the team. One can call her underrated but certainly, she is the one to watch out for.
Women’s Big Bash League 2021, WBBL 7, Teams, Fixtures, Squads, Match timings, Venue details and Live-streaming details
Melbourne Stars squad for WBBL 07
Meg Lanning (c), Annabel Sutherland, Maia Bouchier (Eng), Kim Garth (Ire), Linsey Smith (Eng), Lucy Cripps, Maddy Darke, Nicole Faltum, Tess Flintoff, Georgia Gall, Anna Lanning, Rhys McKenna, Erin Osborne, Elyse Villani
Perth Scorchers
Probably, the best squad in the tournament. There are just too many superstars in their line-up. If they all come together well, Scorchers can prove dangerous.
Sophie Devine and Beth Mooney are probably the most destructive opening pair in this season. Mooney is in excellent form too. However, Sophie Devine did not enjoy the current Australian tour and her form will be the key here.
Also, Chamari Athapathu will take on the bowlers but again, it’s been quite a long since we have seen her play.
While all these could go either way, the team’s best bet will be on Marizanne Kapp who will wear orange this year. The South African All-rounder is in excellent form at the moment and will be the X-factor for the team. Alana King, Piepa Cleary, Heather Graham, Chloe Piparo are other players who could be the difference between two teams in any contest.
Perth Scorchers squad for WBBL 07
Sophie Devine (NZ)(c), Beth Mooney, Chamari Athapathu (SL), Marizanne Kapp (SA), Samantha Betts, Mathilda Carmichael, Piepa Cleary, Ashley Day, Amy Edgar, Heather Graham, Lisa Griffith, Alana King, Lilly Mills, Taneale Peschel, Chloe Piparo
Sydney Thunder
The defending champions will be keen to make it three this year. However, the team will miss out on England superstars. On the other hand, Rachael Haynes might not be available for the tournament because of the birth of her child.
Still, this is one of the strongest squads available, thanks to local talents. The team has also included Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma from India and the youngster Issy Wong from England.
All three marquee players are proven match-winners. Mandhana and Sharma have done it many times in the international circuit while Wong has done it for her county many times.
Hannah Darlington, Sammy Jo Johnson are two players who will hold the key in this line-up.
Among the youngsters, Phoebe Litchfield will be the player to put your money on.
Sydney Thunder Squad for WBBL 07
Rachael Haynes (c), Smriti Mandhana (Ind), Deepti Sharma (Ind), Issy Wong (Eng), Sam Bates, Hannah Darlington, Jessica Davidson, Corinne Hall, Sammy-Jo Johnson, Anika Learoyd, Phoebe Litchfield, Kate Peterson, Olivia Porter, Lauren Smith, Tahlia Wilson
Sydney Sixers
The two-time champions will look to come back stronger this season as they had recruited some of the attacking stars around the world.
Simply the thought of Shafali Verma opening the innings with Allysa Healy makes everything interesting. Apart from these two stars, Ash Gardner’s form and Ellyse Perry makes this squad even more exciting.
Nicole Bolton, who has retired recently from state cricket, will be playing in the WBBL this year.
Radha Yadav is yet another player who will be bringing that aggression to the team. She is the one to watch out for in this team. She is also a good batter who can add useful runs to the total.
Maitlan Brown will be turning up for Sixers this year and along with Stella Campbell, they are likely to destroy the batters.
The form of Ellyse Perry will be the key factor in this tournament.
Sydney Sixers Squad for WBBL 07
Ellyse Perry (captain), Jade Allen, Nicole Bolton, Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns, Stella Campbell, Lauren Cheatle, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Emma Hughes, Matilda Lugg, Angela Reakes Claire Moore, Shafali Verma, Radha Yadav
