WBBL: Ellyse Perry to miss Sydney Sixers season opener due to over-rate suspension

The WBBL starts on Thursday night, but the season opener will be without one of its biggest drawcards following a suspension that has carried over from last season.

Sydney Sixers captain Ellyse Perry will be watching Thursday’s WBBL season opener against the Stars from the sidelines as she serves her one-match suspension for slow over rates.

Perry was handed the ban after the Sixers were one over behind during their loss to the Strikers in last year’s final.

It was the Sixers’ third offence of the season which meant it automatically triggered the suspension for their skipper.

“That’s part of the deal,” Perry said. “It’s in the competition rules.

“It’s hard to be frustrated when you know exactly what you’re getting it for.”

The 32-year-old will instead make her first appearance in the magenta on Sunday in the Sydney Smash against the Thunder.

Perry is one of the competition’s biggest drawcards and not having her involved in the first game of the season is a blow for crowds and stakeholders.

The Sixers did not formally appeal the decision as they were behind on their overs. However, they did dispute with Cricket Australia (CA) the ability for a ban to carry over from a previous season.

CA confirmed they are content with the decision given it is clearly stated in the playing conditions.

Fans at North Sydney Oval will have to wait until Sunday to get a glimpse of the superstar all-rounder. Picture: Getty Images

“We’d love to have her out there, she’s awesome and in great form at the moment,” Alistair Dobson, general manager of the Big Bash said.

“But we operate within a competition that has rules and regulations and it’s an unfortunate by-product of last season.”

Perry’s teammates were also hit with a fine of $250 each for their third infringement in the final – a large discrepancy to the captain’s one-game ban.

It was an added blow for the Sixers who dominated all year before coming up short in the final match of last season.

The side has not yet decided who will lead them for their season opener. Ash Gardner was vice-captain for the Sixers during WBBL08 but is under an injury cloud following the ODI series against the West Indies after she was sent for X-rays on her thumb.

Another option is Alyssa Healy who has plenty of leadership experience for state and country.

Thankfully for fans at North Sydney Oval, they will be treated to the return of Meg Lanning as she makes her WBBL comeback.

The Australian captain missed all of last year’s tournament after taking a break from the sport. She also did not travel to the Ashes this winter for medical reasons.

However, Lanning has been in fine touch in domestic cricket, passing 50 in all but one of her WNCL matches for Victoria this season.

Originally published as WBBL: Ellyse Perry to miss Sydney Sixers season opener due to over-rate suspension