Finals the goal as Adelaide Strikers’ prepare for opening WBBL05 game against Melbourne Renegades
The pitch is ready, the outfield is fast. The Adelaide Strikers WBBL05 campaign kicks off at Karen Rolton Oval on Saturday against Melbourne Renegades. And they have only one goal in mind — making finals.
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Adelaide Strikers have locked in a 13-player squad to open their WBBL05 campaign against Melbourne Renegades on Saturday and it’s been done with one thing in mind: making finals.
In the previous four seasons of the Women’s Big Bash competition, the Strikers have made finals only once (in WBBL03), and there is steely focus in the team to prove the talent stacks up against the best.
The Strikers take on the Renegades in a double-header at Karen Rolton Oval this weekend and incoming coach Luke Williams has added West Indian import Stafanie Taylor and former Melbourne Star’s middle-order batter Katie Mack to his line-up, giving experience and depth alongside Kiwi duo Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates and Australian inswinger Megan Schutt.
“I’m really happy with the list we’ve assembled and I feel like our best cricket will be able to challenge any team we come up against,” Williams said.
“Our goal is absolutely to be making finals this year.”
Schutt agreed: “On paper, there are a lot of good teams, but I think we’re right up there and we’ve got a good shot at winning the title.
“I think we’ve got the right balance of power hitters and noodlers in the middle-order there as well as a pretty good bowling attack so pretty confident.”
Putting to one side the fact that four of the world’s best cricketers (in Taylor, Schutt, Bates and Devine) are all playing for the Strikers this season, according to captain Bates, it’s the local players — the likes of allrounder Tahlia McGrath, legspinner Amanda-Jade Wellington and batter Bridget Patterson — who’ll make the difference.
Bates said the depth of local talent shone through in the Strikers’ back-to-back wins over the ICC’s Global Development Squad (a composite team of players from countries including Pakistan and India), in trials games held in Melbourne last week.
In game one, Wellington took 3/13 from four overs.
“She made some of their batters look a bit silly with the ball turning so much, and that’s what we’re encouraging her to do, to turn it away from the bat and keep backing that skill … she’s one of the best spin bowlers in the country, so I’m just looking forward to seeing her with bat and ball,” Bates said.
But Bates was wary of the Renegades — with a double header of games against them tomorrow and Sunday — with their list including world-class bowlers Georgia Wareham and Sophie Molineux.
“They are two of the best spin bowlers, so we’ve been practising on what we’re going to come up against with them and Lea Tahuhu, my Kiwi teammate, she’s one of the fastest bowlers in the world, so their bowling attack has always been really strong,” she said.
“With Danielle Wyatt at the top of the order, they’re one of the strongest teams in the competition … but I really hope at home we can get one, if not too wins against them.”
Bates said she had overcome a foot niggle that prevented her from bowling in WBBL04.
“I am a lot more prepared,” she said.
“This year, I’ve bowled all winter and I’ve bowled in the Kia Super League (England’s big bash comp) so I’m definitely ready to bowl some overs, but we’ve got a very strong seam attack so it’s got to be a balance of who’s needed on different days.
“I’ve got lots of bowlers to use and hopefully I can bowl some tough overs like I did a few seasons ago and lead from the front with that.”
Schutt expected big scores providing stacks of entertainment.
“‘K-Rol’ is a road, you’re going to see some good cricket, there should be some good runs out there,” she said.
In a historic move for the competition this weekend’s matches will be played in a stand-alone window for the women’s tournament.
Strikers Head Coach Luke Williams is thrilled to see the women in the spotlight.
“The stand-alone comp is going to be fantastic for the competition and cricket generally,” Williams said.
“I’m really looking forward to the women receiving the opportunity to get the coverage that they deserve, and I can’t wait to see what we can achieve over the course of the next couple of months.”
*Adelaide Strikers v Melbourne Renegades, Saturday, Karen Rolton Oval, from 2pm. Entry is free.
Squad: Suzie Bates (c), Sophie Devine, Tahlia McGrath, Stafanie Taylor, Bridget Patterson, Katie Mack, Annie O’Neil, Tegan McPharlin, Sarah Coyte, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Alex Price, Megan Schutt, Ellie Falconer