WBBL 2023: Nat Sciver-Brunt heading for Perth Scorchers after signing loophole

Cricket’s best female ODI batter is heading for the Scorchers after CA green lit her late addition to the competition outside the overseas player draft.

Perth is in the box seat to secure England star and Ashes hero Nat Sciver-Brunt for the upcoming Women’s Big Bash League season after Cricket Australia provided the green light for her late addition to the competition outside the overseas player draft.

The all-rounder did not nominate for the inaugural WBBL draft – held early last month – on the back of a knee injury that had hampered her in recent months, but an improvement in her condition has led England’s board to release her for the event.

Having considered the change in her circumstances, the WBBL technical and rules committee approved Sciver-Brunt’s request to negotiate directly with teams outside the draft.

The Scorchers have an overseas slot opening after Sciver-Brunt’s England teammate Danni Wyatt withdrew from the upcoming season citing fatigue.

League sources indicated Perth is expected to land Sciver-Brunt, who along with Ash Gardner was named player of this year’s women’s Ashes on the back of consecutive one-day international centuries as well as making an impact with her medium pace.

Nat Sciver-Brunt sits comfortably atop the ICC’s women’s ODI batting ranking. Picture: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Sciver-Brunt, 31, played 29 matches for the Scorchers across her previous stint with the club from 2017 to 2019, however her most recent involvement in the WBBL came with the Melbourne Stars, where she was the club’s player of the season in 2020-21, a season the Stars made the final.

Had Sciver-Brunt nominated for the draft, she would have been eligible to the Stars as a retention selection.

Perth had been forced to decide between New Zealand veteran Sophie Devine and gun South African all-rounder Marizanne Kapp given the Scorchers could only take one as a retention pick. Devine was given the nod, allowing Sydney Thunder to take Kapp at pick No.1.

“They were faced with a very difficult, decision,” Devine said.

“Certainly not envious of them having to make that call but yeah, it was it was pretty tough for me just to have to just literally see where things fell.

“Obviously really pleased that they landed the way they did, but also, that's the way that franchise cricket is these days is. You put your name in the hat and you’re sort of at the mercy of these teams.”

Originally published as WBBL 2023: Nat Sciver-Brunt heading for Perth Scorchers after signing loophole