Cricketing magical powers or not, Sophie Devine’s bright blue Strikers headband will conjure money for charity

Sophie Devine’s bright blue Strikers’ headband may not have magical powers but she is hoping it can start a trend that will raise money for worthy causes.

And there we were thinking that the magical powers of Sophie Devine’s bright blue Strikers headband had worn off. We couldn’t have been more wrong.

Originally donned to keep sweat from her eyes, Devine first wore her headband at the Adelaide Oval on December 23.

The headwear was thought by some to be something of a lucky omen given she went on to make 95 runs and took five wickets in the Strikers win against Melbourne Stars.

That theory was promptly upturned in Friday’s comprehensive loss to the Sydney Sixers when she wore it again, but this time made only five runs and her three overs were tonked, leaving her with figures of 0/45.

But the blue headband, it appears, is here to stay, with Devine posting on her social media channels on Friday that she is challenging opposition players to wear their team headbands too and will then donate $100 to charity on their behalf.

“I’m keen to grow the headband trend, so I’ve got an idea,” she wrote on Twitter.

“I want to nominate a couple of people from the teams we come up against in the WBBL to wear a headband. In return I’ll donate $100 to the charity of their choice.”

Sophie Devine of the Adelaide Strikers bowls at Adelaide Oval while wearing a bright blue headband for the first time. She is challenging opposition players to wear a headband too and she’ll donate money to charity on their behalf. Photo: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images

The Strikers next game is on New Year’s Eve at the Adelaide Oval when they again take on the Sixers in a double header before the men’s team.

Sixers opener Alyssa Healy — who was Player of the Match in Friday’s game after scoring an unbeaten 112 runs — responded to Devine’s call-out by saying that if her fellow opener Ellyse Perry wore one, that Healy would triple the original donation.

Monday’s game will be something of a redemption-seeker for the Strikers, with captain Suzie Bates saying the team was gutted by their loss, but would look to improve in the field.

“The way we bowled and fielded; look you can’t take anything away from Healy’s batting and also the partnership with Perry … (but) the back end was most disappointing with how we executed and a little bit of lack of intent in the field,” she said.

I’m keen to grow the headband trend so I’ve got an idea💡I want to nominate a couple of people from the teams we come up against in the @wbbl to wear a headband. In return I’ll donate $100 to the charity of their choice. First up the @sixersbbl on NYE! 🎉 #wbbl04 #headband pic.twitter.com/zsLssrii6K

— Sophie Devine (@sophdevine77) December 28, 2018

“We gave too much width when the field was up, but we’ve got a really good bowling unit and it’s been our strength all season.

“I think we need to move on from this pretty quickly back at Adelaide Oval where we like playing. It’s one of those tournaments where one day you can get beaten like that and the next tip a team up.”

Bates said the key to a win on Monday would be to play positive cricket.

Strikers v Sixers, Monday, December 31, 1.20pm, Adelaide Oval.