West Indian captain Stafanie Taylor and English batter Lauren Winfield join Adelaide Strikers as team’s formidable list falls into shape
International cricketers Stafanie Taylor and Lauren Winfield have joined the Adelaide Strikers — sharing the last remaining international contract — as the electric blue build impressive list
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West Indies’ big-hitting captain Stafanie Taylor will join the Adelaide Strikers for part of their Women’s Big Bash League campaign starting on October 19, as the electric blues continue to build a formidable playing list.
Allrounder Taylor, 28, will play the first two and last two games of the Strikers’ season — as well as any finals — with English batter Lauren Winfield strengthening the batting line-up during Taylor’s absence (thanks to a scheduling clash with the West Indies playing India). Taylor comes to Adelaide after playing 58 games for the Sydney Thunder.
Her addition means the Strikers have secured the services of the ICC’s world No. 1 ranked T20 bowler (Megan Schutt), the No. 1 ranked T20 batter (Suzie Bates) and the No. 2 and No. 3 ranked T20 allrounders (Sophie Devine and Taylor).
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With the WBBL entering its fifth season — and its first as a stand-alone event — Taylor said she was excited to continue her distinguished Big Bash career in a new setting.
“I don’t know much about the team, but I am mostly looking forward to playing alongside Suzie and Sophie,” she said. “And my favourite colour is blue!”
Last summer, Taylor was the Thunder’s leading wicket-taker with 19 at an economy rate of 6.92, while also compiling 212 runs at 35.33 and becoming one of just four Thunder women to surpass 1000 career Big Bash runs.
Winfield is also well-seasoned in the WBBL having played two seasons with Brisbane Heat and one with Hobart Hurricanes.
She will come into this season fresh off captaining the Yorkshire Diamonds in the English Kia Super League, where she opened the batting alongside Sydney Sixer Alyssa Healy, producing a strike-rate of 102.25 from 10 games.
“Adelaide has always looked like a club with a fantastic culture,” Winfield, 29, said. “It will certainly be nice to play alongside Megan Schutt rather than having to face her hooping in-swingers. Joining a new team is always exciting and I can’t wait to get stuck in.”
Strikers’ incoming coach Luke Williams said Taylor was a massive signing for the side.
“She’s going to add to our top-order batting as well as providing a spin bowling option as well as plenty of experience and leadership, so we’re really delighted,” he said.
Williams described the scheduling clash that keeps her out of the side in November as: “it is what it is with international cricket”.
“Lauren will add to our middle order depth. She’s a really experienced international cricketer and we’re sure she’s going to fit in well to our team on and off the field and delighted that in Stafanie’s absence we can get such an experienced player to join us.”
The Adelaide Strikers begin their WBBL campaign on Saturday, October 19 at Karen Rolton Oval in Adelaide.