WBBL draft guide: What every team needs, key picks, players analysed
Two great players, one retention pick. It’s the decision which could decide this season’s WBBL title. Find out more in our full guide to every team, their dream targets and who they are likely to pick.
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There will be no more important decision this season for the Sydney Thunder than striking gold in the international player draft and with some of the world’s best cricketers in the platinum player pool, all eyes will be on who they select with pick No.1.
While the WBBL draft is slightly different than the men’s BBL draft in that some international players have opted to sign directly with clubs for reduced fees, there are still several English, Indian and New Zealand superstars on the market.
FULL BBL DRAFT PREVIEW: WHO WILL EVERY CLUB TAKE?
Suzie Bates, Tammy Beaumont, Sophia Dunkley, Amy Jones, Mignon du Preez and Lizelle Lee are the biggest names to select the direct entry to clubs away from the draft, so all eyes will be on the team from the west who have the biggest retention decision to make.
The Scorchers have enjoyed much success with Kiwi Sophie Devine while South African Marizanne Kapp has also been a proven star. It’s unlikely Perth will retain both so the decision on who the Scorchers use their retention pick on could shape the entire draft.
Here’s how your WBBL club is shaping up ahead of Sunday’s all-important player draft.
ADELAIDE STRIKERS
Finish last year: 2nd (Champions)
Draft picks: 8, 16, 17, 32
Current Squad: Tahlia McGrath (capt), Jemma Barsby, Darcie Brown, Katie Mack, Annie O’Neil, Maddie Penna, Megan Schutt, Amanda-Jade Wellington
The one player they must draft:
Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa) The dynamic opening batter continues to impress on the international stage and appears to be the obvious use of the retention pick by the Strikers. She scored the third-most runs in WBBL08 even though she wasn’t quite at her best, but was integral in their efforts to go all the way and win the title.
What they really need to achieve at the draft:
Spin became a really important part of the equation for the Strikers last year and the combination of Wellington and Barsby was key. Deandra Dottin would likely return after she impressed with both bat and ball. The retirement of Tegan McPharlin means the need for a keeper jumps out, so India’s Richa Ghosh would be a strong option who doubles as an aggressive batter.
BRISBANE HEAT
Finish last year: 3rd
Draft picks: 6, 14, 19 and 30
Current Squad: Nicola Hancock, Grace Harris, Laura Harris, Mikayla Hinkley, Ellie Johnston, Jess Jonassen, Charli Knott, Grace Parsons, Georgia Redmayne, Courtney Sippel, Georgia Voll. (one contract spot to fill)
The one player they must draft:
Amelia Kerr. The Kiwi allrounder is in her prime as a player. Bats in the top five and is a wicket-taker and run-stopper.
What they really need to achieve at the draft:
Another solid batting option, either at the top or in the middle order. Danni Wyatt was just what they wanted last year but she may be hard to land this time after her UK summer efforts. A pace bowling allrounder would certainly complement their attack as well.
HOBART HURRICANES
Finish last year: 4th
Draft picks: 5, 13, 20, 29
Current Squad: Nicola Carey, Maisy Gibson, Heather Graham, Ruth Johnston, Hayley Silver-Holmes, Amy Smith, Molly Strano, Rachel Trenaman, Elyse Villani
The one player they must draft:
Pakistan off-spinning allrounder Nita Dar or someone else who can shine in both skills.
What they really need to achieve at the draft:
A bowler who can bowl across all three phases of an innings, and a batter with a high strike rate to allow our current talent to play their natural style.
PERTH SCORCHERS
Finish last year: 5th
Draft picks: 3, 11, 22, 27
Current Squad: Charis Bekker, Mathilda Carmichael, Piepa Cleary, Maddy Darke, Amy Edgar, Holly Ferling, Maddy Green, Alana King, Lilly Mills, Beth Mooney, Taneale Peschel, Chloe Piparo, Georgia Wyllie
The one player they must draft:
Marizanne Kapp (South Africa) It’s the “decision that’s kept us up at night” according to Perth’s general manager of high performance, Kade Harvey. With one retention pick, do you go for Sophie Devine or Marizanne Kapp? Devine has been the club’s captain, but Kapp’s performances have arguably been stronger in the past 12 months. “It’s a pretty brutal choice we’ll have to make,” Harvey went on to say. Based solely on form, Kapp makes the most sense. But time will tell.
What they really need to achieve at the draft:
The Scorchers just need a way to find more wickets. They lost two games where they managed to score 170+ last season, so providing support to the likes of Alana King will be key. Lauren Bell would love playing at the WACA, as would Kate Cross who played for the Scorchers in WBBL04. There’s also talk that an agreement is already in place to pick up English wicketkeeper Amy Jones through direct nominations.
MELBOURNE RENEGADES
Finish last year: Seventh
Draft picks: 2, 10, 23, 26
Current Squad: Sophie Molineux (capt), Sarah Coyte, Jess Duffin, Ella Hayward, Georgia Prestwidge, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham
The one player they must draft:
This list has holes everywhere but was particularly light for reliable batters last season, so Indian veteran Harmanpreet Kaur is available to the ‘Gades as a retention pick after pulling out of the WBBL last summer would stabilise a shaky top order, albeit she is coming off a poor showing in The Hundred.
What they really need to achieve at the draft:
Unfortunately for the Renegades, they need help in just about every area given the injury cloud over Molineux - returning from an ACL - and the absence of the perenially-sidelined Vlaeminck after shoulder surgery. Wareham shapes as their linchpin, so pace and batting depth to support her would be useful.
MELBOURNE STARS
Finish last year: Sixth
Draft picks: 4, 12, 21, 28
Current Squad: Annabel Sutherland, Nicole Faltum, Sophie Day, Meg Lanning (capt), Rhys McKenna, Tess Flintoff, Kim Garth, Sasha Moloney
The one player they must draft:
Lanning’s expected return makes the Stars a vastly improved outfit but some extra batting would still be beneficial. South African opener Tazmin Brits - who had a strong T20 World Cup earlier this year - is one such option in the platinum band.
What they really need to achieve at the draft:
With Lanning back there are no gaping holes at the Stars so general consolidation would be useful. England’s spinning all-rounder Sophia Dunkley is expected to join via the post-draft mechanism.
SYDNEY SIXERS
Finish last year: Runners’ up
Draft picks: Pick 7, 15, 18, 31
Current Squad: Ellyse Perry (capt), Jade Allen, Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns, Lauren Cheatle, Ashleigh Gardner, Emma Hughes
The one player they must draft:
Deepti Sharma. Sophie Ecclestone’s accurate spin was so good for the Sixers last year, but her injury withdrawal changes things for the maidens in Magenta. Indian spinner Sharma may not slip this far down in the draft, but would be a smart buy for the Sixers as she could bowl in tandem with Ash Gardner and rip teams apart.
What they really need to achieve at the draft:
The strong mail is the New Zealand champion Suzie Bates will return to the Sixers under a loophole where players can avoid going into the draft and choose their club by taking a reduced fee. The Sixers already have a number of class pace bowlers on their list and their top order batting also looks strong so their priorities should be securing all-rounders and spinners. Sneh Rana is another Indian all-rounder who could be on the radar. New Sixers GM Rachael Haynes bought Rana in the 2023 Indian Women’s Premier League auction
SYDNEY THUNDER
Finish last year: Last
Draft picks: Pick 1, 9, 24, 25
Current Squad: Hannah Darlington, Sammy-Jo Johnson, Anika Learoyd, Phoebe Litchfield, Lauren Smith
The one player they must draft:
Shabnim Ismail. Melbourne Renegades have retention rights over the South African speedster, but may choose to prioritise Harmanpreet Kaur or Chamari Athapaththu with their one retention pick. If so, the Thunder should be targeting Ismail as the quickest bowler in the world right now.
What they really need to achieve at the draft:
After finishing stone cold last in 2022-23, the Thunder need to reinvent themselves and really nail this draft. Can’t afford international pretenders. They need the real deal. Recruiting batting support for Phoebe Litchfield will be vital.
Originally published as WBBL draft guide: What every team needs, key picks, players analysed
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