WBBL 10 Draft: The Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) 10 draft on September 1st has set the stage for an exhilarating new season of women’s cricket in Australia. With the 10th edition of the WBBL scheduled to showcase thrilling cricket action, teams have strategically assembled their squads to compete in the upcoming tournament.

Here’s a detailed overview of the draft results, including retained players, standout picks, and full team rosters:

WBBL 10 Draft – Notable Retentions

Sydney Sixers: Sophie Ecclestone, Amelia Kerr Sydney Thunder: Heather Knight Adelaide Strikers: Laura Wolvaardt

Platinum Signings

Hobart Hurricanes: Danni Wyatt, Chloe Tryon, Lizelle Lee Melbourne Renegades: Deandra Dottin, Hayley Matthews, Alice Capsey Melbourne Stars: Deepti Sharma, Marizanne Kapp, Yastika Bhatia Brisbane Heat: Jemimah Rodrigues, Shikha Pandey, Nadine De Klerk Perth Scorchers: Sophie Devine, Amy Jones, Hemalatha Dayalan Sydney Sixers: Amelia Kerr (Pre-Signed) Sydney Thunder: Chamari Athapaththu (Pre-Signed) Adelaide Strikers: Smriti Mandhana (Pre-Signed)

WBBL 10 Draft – Notable Passes

Adelaide Strikers: 1 pass Brisbane Heat: 1 pass Hobart Hurricanes: 1 pass Melbourne Stars: 1 pass Melbourne Renegades: 1 pass Perth Scorchers: 1 pass Sydney Sixers: 1 pass

WBBL 2024 Draft Highlights: Top Picks for Each Team

Hobart Hurricanes

• Danni Wyatt (England)
• Chloe Tryon (South Africa)
• Lizelle Lee (South Africa)

Sydney Sixers

• Sophie Ecclestone (England)
• Amelia Kerr (New Zealand)
• Hollie Armitage (England)

Melbourne Renegades

• Deandra Dottin (West Indies)
• Hayley Matthews (Barbados)
• Alice Capsey (England)

Melbourne Stars

• Deepti Sharma (India)
• Marizanne Kapp (South Africa)
• Yastika Bhatia (India)

Sydney Thunder

• Heather Knight (England)
• Shabnim Ismail (South Africa)
• Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka)
• Georgia Adams (England)

Adelaide Strikers

• Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa)
• Smriti Mandhana (India)
• Orla Prendergast (Ireland)

Brisbane Heat

• Jemimah Rodrigues (India)
• Shikha Pandey (India)
• Nadine de Klerk (South Africa)

Perth Scorchers

• Sophie Devine (New Zealand)
• Amy Jones (England)
• Hemalatha Dayalan (India)

Full Squads for WBBL 2024

Adelaide Strikers: Jemma Barsby, Darcie Brown, Eleanor Larosa, Katie Mack, Smriti Mandhana (India), Anesu Mushangwe, Tahlia McGrath (c), Bridget Patterson, Maddie Penna, Megan Schutt, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa), Orla Prendergast (Ireland)

Brisbane Heat: Bonnie Berry, Nadine de Klerk (South Africa), Sianna Ginger, Lucy Hamilton, Nicola Hancock, Grace Harris, Laura Harris, Ellie Johnston, Jess Jonassen, Charli Knott, Grace Parsons, Georgia Redmayne, Mikayla Wrigley, Jemimah Rodrigues (India), Shikha Pandey (India), Nadine de Klerk (South Africa)

Hobart Hurricanes: Nicola Carey, Heather Graham, Ruth Johnston, Lizelle Lee (South Africa), Hayley Silver-Holmes, Amy Smith, Lauren Smith, Molly Strano, Rachel Trenaman, Elyse Villani, Danni Wyatt (England), Chloe Tryon (South Africa)

Melbourne Renegades: Sarah Coyte, Emma de Broughe, Josie Dooley, Nicole Faltum, Ella Hayward, Milly Illingworth, Hayley Matthews (West Indies), Sophie Molineux, Georgia Prestwidge, Naomi Stalenberg, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham, Courtney Webb, Deandra Dottin (West Indies), Hayley Matthews (West Indies)

Melbourne Stars: Sophie Day, Kim Garth, Marizanne Kapp (South Africa), Meg Lanning, Sophie Reid, Annabel Sutherland, Deepti Sharma (India), Yastika Bhatia (India)

Perth Scorchers: Chloe Ainsworth, Stella Campbell, Piepa Cleary, Maddy Darke, Sophie Devine (New Zealand), Amy Edgar, Mikayla Hinkley, Alana King, Lilly Mills, Beth Mooney, Chloe Piparo, Amy Jones (England), Hemalatha Dayalan (India)

Sydney Sixers: Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns, Mathilda Carmichael, Lauren Cheatle, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Amelia Kerr (New Zealand), Kate Pelle, Ellyse Perry, Kate Peterson, Courtney Sippel, Sophie Ecclestone (England), Hollie Armitage (England)

Sydney Thunder: Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka), Sam Bates, Hannah Darlington, Sienna Eve, Saskia Horley, Anika Learoyd, Phoebe Litchfield, Claire Moore, Taneale Peschel, Georgia Voll, Tahlia Wilson, Heather Knight (England), Shabnim Ismail (South Africa), Georgia Adams (England)

ALSO READ: BBL Draft 2024-25: Draft Highlights, Final Squads, And Top Picks

With her elegant stroke play and powerful hitting, Mandhana has consistently made significant contributions to the Indian women’s cricket team. Her performances in major tournaments, including the ICC Women’s World Cup and T20 World Cup, have showcased her exceptional talent and ability to perform under pressure.

Here’s a more detailed breakdown of her impact:

1. Batting Prowess and Consistency:

Aggression and Power: Mandhana is renowned for her aggressive batting style and ability to hit boundaries at will. Her powerful strokes and timing make her a nightmare for bowlers.
Consistency: She has consistently performed at the highest level in various T20 leagues, proving her reliability and ability to deliver under pressure.

2. Leadership and Experience:

Mentoring Younger Players: Mandhana’s experience and leadership qualities can be invaluable in guiding and mentoring younger players in the Strikers squad.

In-game Decision Making: Her ability to make sound decisions on the field, especially in crucial moments, can be a game-changer.

3. Fan Base and Brand Value:

Drawing Crowds: Mandhana’s immense popularity and fan base will undoubtedly attract more spectators to Strikers matches, contributing to increased revenue and excitement.

Boosting Brand Value: Her association with the team can enhance the Strikers’ brand value and visibility in the global cricket market.

In essence, Smriti Mandhana’s signing is a win-win situation for both the Adelaide Strikers and the WBBL. Her batting prowess, leadership, and fan appeal make her a valuable asset that can significantly contribute to the team’s success in the upcoming tournament.

Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana, the left-hand batsman with jersey no. 18 and batting position at number 3 similar to Virat Kohli, joins the Adelaide Strikers for WBBL season 2024-25. She is expected to fortify the batting side of Strikers with her striking ability to hit the maximums and her classy style of playing cricket shots with elegance.

Adelaide Strikers signs the batting maestro Smriti Mandhana

The impressive batter with a strike rate of over 130 has been a part of three teams in the previous seasons of WBBL, such as the Brisbane Heat (WBBL|02), Hobart Hurricanes (WBBL|04), and Sydney Thunder (WBBL|07). Smriti Mandhana played an impressive innings in WBBL|7 against the Melbourne Renegades of 114* in a mere 64 balls.

Smriti has been an absolute all-format player for Indian cricket, with two coveted ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year awards and is only the second player to achieve this feat alongside Ellyse Perry from Australia in the world.

She is considered to be the most decorated player in India leading the Royal Challengers Bengaluru alongside the coach Luke Williams in the 2024 season, fortunately, they won the title of IPL, which till now the male team of RCB has not been able to achieve in 16 years that include giant, extremely talented players like Ab de Villiers, Dale Steyn, Virat Kohli, and Faf du Plessis.

Smriti Mandhana also worked alongside Luke Williams for the Southern Brave in the Hundred League. Luke expressed his experience and enthusiasm for working with her:

“Smriti is an exceptional talent, and we are thrilled to welcome her to the Strikers. Her technical skill, experience, and strategic insights are a tremendous asset for us. I know firsthand the dedication and energy she brings to the team and on the field. Her expertise and leadership will be invaluable as we drive for success in the upcoming season,” Williams said.

Smriti also shared her excitement about joining and playing in Australia for WBBL seasons.
“I always look forward to playing in Australia, and I’m excited about the opportunity to contribute to a team with a history of success like the Strikers. I’m thrilled to continue working with Luke. Our previous experiences together have been so rewarding, and I’m looking forward to building on that,” Mandhana said.

In addition to that, the Adelaide Strikers have made a trade with the Melbourne Renegades ahead of the WBBL Draft. Both teams have traded their 19th and 30th draft picks for the Renegades’ 22nd and 27th picks. This draft will be disclosed on September 1st. The Adelaide Strikers will kick off their WBBL season 10 campaign at home against the Brisbane Heat on October 27th.

ALSO READ: Best 11 Of The Hundred League

Inspiring Journeys of Indian Women Cricketers: Cricket is a sport that has always been dominated by men. However, the interest of the fans is slowly shifting for good. With the increased interest of cricket lovers and media interest, women’s cricket has seen significant growth and has reached new heights in the world of sports.

Tournaments like the ICC Women’s World Cup and Women’s T20 World Cup have played an instrumental role in the game’s transformation. These tournaments not only provide a chance to showcase the player’s skills but also help the game grow by attracting huge audiences around the globe.

Apart from this, top-professional cash-rich leagues including the Women’s Premier League (WPL), The Hundred, and the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), have given a platform to the young talents to earn recognition and fame.

Meanwhile, here, in this article, we bring you a few Indian women cricketers, who went through a lot of hardships to become the legends of this game.

Inspiring Journeys of Indian Women Cricketers. Have a look:

1. Mithali Raj

From a modest background in Jodhpur to becoming one of the most loved cricketers in the Indian women’s cricket team, Mithali Raj’s story is one of defying gender norms.

The former Indian captain, Mithali was introduced to cricket by her father, who supported her throughout her career, despite facing several financial challenges on the way. Her story kickstarted on the streets of her neighborhood where she used to play with the boys of her area. With constant support from her family and friends, she eventually entered the international cricket arena.

Her record-breaking career includes becoming the highest run-scorer in women’s ODIs and captaining India to multiple World Cup finals.

2. Jhulan Goswami:

Jhulan Goswami, who is fondly called ‘Chakdaha Express’ by her fans for her sensational bowling skills, faced a lot of hurdles on her way to becoming a legend of this game. Today, Jhulan is hailed as one of the most talented bowlers to have played for the Indian cricket team, however, it wasn’t an easy ride for her.

Jhulan had to overcome several financial challenges to give wings to her dreams of becoming a premiere bowler for the Indian cricket team. Coming from a small village in West Bengal, Jhulan used to travel long distances for her training. She also faced pressure from her society and relatives to pursue a more feminine career. However, with her dedication and unwavering love for bowling, Jhulan made the way for herself and became one of the biggest names in cricket.

Chakda ‘Xpress, which is a movie based on the life of Jhulan Goswami, is all set to be released this year. The movie features Anushka Sharma in the lead role.

3. Smriti Mandhana

Smriti Mandhana, who is hailed as the ‘Queen of Cricket World’ has made her space in the hearts of every cricket lover around the world. All thanks to her sensational performances and aggressive batting prowess, Smriti has become one of the most dynamic opening batters.

Hailing from Sangli in Maharashtra, Smriti displayed her cricketing prowess from a very young age. Despite facing financial problems since childhood, her family supported her through thick and thin, backing her to work on her passion.

4. Harmanpreet Kaur:

Harmanpreet Kaur is known for her powerful batting and leadership qualities, notably leading the Indian women cricketers to the final of the ICC Women’s World Cup in 2017.

Harmanpreet’s journey to stardom wasn’t all smooth sailing. From getting rejected for the job of Punjab Police to facing financial difficulties because of being unemployed, Harmanpreet faced many hurdles.

After facing a lot of problems and gender discrimination, Kaur eventually found work with the Indian Railways. These challenges seem to have only strengthened the spirits of Kaur, who went on to become one of the most loved stars of the game.

5. Poonam Yadav

India’s premier leg-spinner, Poonam Yadav hails from Agra, Uttar Pradesh. Poonam faced a lot of financial troubles. She used to practice with a borrowed kit. She worked on her leg-spin bowling skills. Her hard work eventually paid off and she became a match-winning bowler for the Indian cricket team. She is now known globally for her sensational googlies and flighted deliveries.

6. Shikha Pandey:

Shikha Pandey’s journey to becoming India’s leading fast bowler is a testament to perseverance, sheer dedication, and commitment. Hailing from Karimnagar in Telangana, Shikha balanced her education with her love for cricket and emerged as a key player for India’s bowling bowling attack in both ODIs and T20Is.

7. Deepti Sharma:

The talented all-rounder from Agra in Uttar Pradesh has emerged as a promising cricketer. Her passion for cricket was initially not taken back. However, she convinced her family to follow their dreams.

She faced a lot of criticism from the people around her, but she learned the art of tuning the negativity out and focusing on her dreams. Deepti’s impressive batting performances and off-spin bowling skills made her a valuable asset to the Indian team.

In this article, we mention the 5 lesser-known facts about Indian Star Batswomen Smriti Mandhana

Indian StarWomen Batsmen Smriti Mandhana was born on July 18, 1996, in Mumbai. She made her debut in T20 International in 2013 against Bangladesh. Since then, she has won matches for India many times on her own and has come to the fore as the pillar of the Indian women’s team. Recently, under her captaincy, Royal Challengers Banglore (RCB) won its first title in the Women’s Premier League (WPL). Currently, she is playing the home series against South Africa and has hit 2 consecutive centuries.

Smriti Mandhana Recognized by Double Century:

Smriti’s talent blossomed early. At nine years old she was selected for the Maharashtra Under-15 team. But her rise continued when, at 16, she smashed a phenomenal 224 runs in just 150 balls for Maharashtra U-19 against Gujarat in the West Zone tournament. This feat remains the highest score by an Indian woman in a one-day match at any level. Interestingly, the bat she used for this double century was a gift to her brother from the legendary Rahul Dravid.

Youngest Captain and Global Recognition: 

Smriti Mandhana’s leadership qualities were evident early on. At just 22, she became the youngest Indian T20 captain, leading the team in 2017. Her talent was also global. She was the only player from India to be named to the ICC Women’s Team of the Year in 2016, which is evidence of her continuing talent.

Also Read: T20 World Cup 2024: Pat Cummins Creates History By Taking Two Consecutive Hatricks

Playing in the International League:

Smriti Mandhana became the second Indian cricket player to sign a contract with the Brisbane Heat for the Women’s Big Bash League, after Harmanpreet Kaur. Afterwards, Veda Krishnamurthy became a member of the Australian League.

A Sporting Family: 

Cricket runs in Smriti’s blood. Her father played cricket at the district level for Sangli, Maharashtra, and her brother represented Maharashtra at the under-16 level. This early exposure to the sport undoubtedly nurtured her talent.

Beyond Cricket: 

Despite her dedication to cricket, Smriti enjoys other things She is a talented dancer and an avid dog lover. This well-rounded personality makes her a role model not just for aspiring cricketers but for young women in general. She is an inspiration to girls from outside who want to be like her.