Adelaide Strikers ready to bring Blue energy to the 2018/19 season of the Big Bash
The Adelaide Strikers have set the clear goal of what they want to achieve in the new WBBL season: make the final for the first time in the team’s history
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Expect nothing but high energy and hair-raising tactical experiments from the Adelaide Strikers this Women’s Big Bash League season, as the team aims to go one better than last year and make the final for the first time in the team’s history.
Ahead of Sunday’s opening WBBL game against the Brisbane Heat in Melbourne, Strikers spinner Alex Price, captain Suzie Bates and all-rounder Sarah Coyte turned Adelaide Oval into a laboratory for energy-creating science experiments in recognition of the side’s
social media hashtag #BlueEnergy.
New Zealand import and opening batter Bates — on the final year of her two-year Strikers contract — she said she was happy to be back in Adelaide, putting behind her NZ’s disappointing turn in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, where the White Ferns failed to make the finals.
“I just love playing in the Big Bash and rather than come back from the World Cup and feel a bit down about our performance, we have something to look forward to … I’m just looking forward to getting started,” she said.
Bates said while the team had been happy to make the semi-finals last season, their clear intention was to go one better.
In that effort, she welcomed the return of fellow Kiwi, all-rounder Sohpie Devine, and the signing of English spin bowler Danielle Hazell (whose international side lost to Australia in the World Cup final last weekend).
“It’s going to be really handy to have an international offspin bowler, I think we missed that last year,” Bates said.
“Dani’s going to bring a lot of knowledge to the bowling group and I’m looking forward to playing alongside her instead of against her.”
Hazell is unavailable for tomorrow’s game due to England Cricket Board regulations that stipulate players must have seven days’ rest after an international tour.
But the world’s No. 1 T20 bowler, South Australian Megan Schutt, will be available and Bates praised the fast bowler’s talents.
“Megan’s a superstar and I thought she was one of the best bowlers at the T20 tournament,” she said.
“I had to face her in one of the games and she makes it so difficult to bat at the top of the order.”
Bates herself has been in red-hot form after producing World Cup knocks of 67, 48, 11 and 35, while also passing 3000 T20I career runs.
Strikers head coach Andrea McCauley applauded Bates’ explosive batting capabilities.
“Suzie batted the house down last year for us and she certainly is bringing form in after the World Cup,” she said.
“She is such a quality player and really considered one of the best cricketers in the world, so I’m sure she will be a consistent performer for us again this year.”
But the question on many lips is: After this season, will the superstar duo of Bates and Devine resign with the Blue?
Bates said she hadn’t had any contract conversations yet.
“We signed up for two seasons,” she said.
“We’ve loved our time here and I’m sure those conversations will happen at some point throughout the season … two years seems like a short stint.
“I’d love Sophie to stick around too so I’m sure we’ll have some conversations and see what happens.”
Bates said in her spare time in Adelaide she loved to head to a golf course with Devine.
“When we get some downtime we can go and play some golf — bad golf — but still golf,” she laughed.
Some cricket commentators now consider Australia’s eight-team WBBL to be the best quality female T20 competition in the world.
Bates agreed.
“It’s the toughest competition,” she said.
“Every team has the potential to beat every other side and I think (at international level) there are the top teams that very rarely get beaten, so every game in the competition in the Big Bash either team can win and when you do well, you feel like you’re at the top of your game.
“It’s a real challenge to do well in it.”
Adelaide Strikers v Brisbane Heat, Sunday, December 2, CitiPower Centre, St Kilda, 10.10am.
ADELAIDE STRIKERS WBBL 2018/19 FIXTURE:
v Brisbane Heat
Sunday, December 2
CitiPower Centre, St Kilda, 10.10am
v Melbourne Renegades
Saturday, December 8
CitiPower Centre, St Kilda, 1.40pm
v Melbourne Renegades
Sunday, December 9
Eastern Oval, Ballarat, 1.40pm
v Sydney Thunder
Saturday, December 15
Blundstone Arena, Hobart, 1.40pm
v Sydney Thunder
Sunday, December 16
Blundstone Arena, Hobart, 9.40am
v Melbourne Stars
Friday, December 21
Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide, 4pm
v Melbourne Stars
Sunday, December 23
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, 1.20pm
v Sydney Sixers
Friday, December 28
Hurtsville Oval, Sydney, 1.40pm
v Sydney Sixers
Monday, December 31
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, 1.20pm
v Brisbane Heat
Saturday, January 5
Harrup Park, Mackay, 6.45pm
v Hobart Hurricanes
Tuesday, January 8
Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide, 1.40pm
v Hobart Hurricanes
Wednesday, January 9
Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide, 1.40pm
v Perth Scorchers
Saturday, January 12
Traeger Park, Alice Springs, 11.50am
v Perth Scorchers
Sunday, January 13
Traeger Park, Alice Springs, 11.50am
Semi-finals to be played on Saturday, January 19
Final to be played on Saturday, January 26
* Games at Karen Rolton Oval are free, but for Adelaide Oval matches a ticket for the men’s game must be purchased.
STRIKERS WBBL SQUAD
Suzie Bates (c)
Sophie Devine
Megan Schutt
Tahlia McGrath
Alex Price
Sarah Coyte
Ellie Falconer
Amanda-Jade Wellington
Tegan McPharlin (wk)
Katelyn Pope
Samantha Betts
Danielle Hazell
Bridget Patterson
Tabatha Saville
Eliza Doddridge
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