WBBL draft: Scorchers let Marizanne Kapp slide to Thunder

The Perth Scorchers have come away from the inaugural WBBL draft with wounds to lick after losing one of their biggest stars. See every pick made in the WBBL draft here.

Perth made the agonising decision to let superstar Marizanne Kapp slide to the Sydney Thunder as the Scorchers opted to keep fellow gun Sophie Devine in the inaugural Women’s Big Bash League draft on Sunday.

The Scorchers had been forced into a difficult call of which of the leading all-rounders – arguably the two best players in the overseas player draft pool – they would keep given rules dictated that they would only be able to match one bid from another club via the retention mechanism.

The Thunder, who had the first selection in the draft, forced Perth’s hand immediately, choosing South African Kapp to open proceedings. The Scorchers decided not to utilise their retention pick, instead choosing to take New Zealander and their captain Devine at pick No. 2, matching the bid of the Melbourne Renegades.

Scorchers coach Becky Grundy explained that while it had been tough to split the pair, Devine’s leadership credentials weighed heavily in the decision.

The Scorchers managed to hold onto Sophie Devine. Photo by Phil Hillyard

Most clubs went with a tried and tested approach in their choices on Sunday. The Renegades, hit hard by injuries to Tayla Vlaeminck and Sophie Molineux, opted for West Indian all-rounder Hayley Matthews and fiery Indian veteran Harmanpreet Kaur, both previously on the club’s books.

The Melbourne Stars sought to pinch South African batter Laura Wolvaardt from the grasp of reining champions Adelaide, but the Strikers matched the Stars’ pick in the second round.

The Stars, who are hoping to have captain Meg Lanning available for the season after she missed last year’s event, again backed in the skill of England young gun Alice Capsey, while recalling compatriot Maia Bouchier.

Brisbane Heat picked New Zealand legspinner Amelia Kerr, a regular for the club in recent seasons, despite indications Kerr will miss the early stages of the tournament, which begins in October.

Kerr’s sister Jess was taken in the fourth round by the Sydney Sixers, who had earlier picked big-hitting South African Chloe Tryon with their first-round selection.

South African speedster Shabnim Ismail is meanwhile bound for the Apple Isle after being taken with the Hobart Hurricanes’ first selection.

The Stars tried to pry Laura Wolvaardt out of Adelaide to no avail. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

The Strikers opted against bringing back West Indian Deandra Dottin despite strong performances last season.

A group of players including Lizelle Lee, Amy Jones and Sophia Dunkley are set to be taken by clubs as direct post-draft signings under a mechanism where players could opt for reduced salaries in exchange for greater certainty. That led to seven clubs only taking two players each rather than the maximum of three.

Jones is expected to be taken by the Scorchers, Dunkley appears bound for the Stars, while Suzie Bates and Tammy Beaumont look likely to return to the Sixers and Thunder respectively.

Originally published as WBBL draft: Scorchers let Marizanne Kapp slide to Thunder