While some of the stars have been retained by teams, a few are going to take their chances in the auction
The Women’s Premier League (WPL) mini-auction is set to go live on December 15 from 3:00 p.m. onwards in Bengaluru, India, with 120 players set to go under the hammer. Apart from Indian players, a huge number of players are from Australia, England, New Zealand, and South Africa, followed by a decent number from associate countries.
A majority of foreign players have had their share of T20 domestic experience, playing in various domestic T20 leagues, including the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL)—Australia’s premier domestic T20 league for women, which was started in 2015, nearly eight years before the WPL started.
Therefore, some of the superstars have made their way to India to play for the five different franchises. Elite players like Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Sophie Devine, Meg Lanning, and a few others have already been retained by teams; several other elite names have registered themselves and are set to go under the hammer on December 15.
Who are these elite WBBL stars? Check-out below.
Heather Graham may not be an established Australian when it comes to international cricket. However, she has 1,560 runs from 138 matches at a strike rate of 104.00. In case you feel the runs are not impressive, do not worry because she is handy with the ball, picking 141 wickets in the WBBL in those 138 matches. Not to forget, in the five T20Is she has played so far, she has picked eight international wickets. Heather has a base price of INR 30 lakh, and given her all-round capabilities, she could be an essential target.
With 121 WBBL matches under her belt, Alana King is another season bowling all-rounder who could fill in the gaps of several teams, given almost every team is in search of an all-rounder. Alana has 126 wickets in 121 matches, and with the willow, she has 624 runs in the WBBL. She has also picked 21 wickets in 22 games, and her base price is INR 30 lakh. Alana also has a strong presence in the Women’s Hundred Competition.
27-year-old leg break bowler Amanda Jade-Wellington has experience playing in the WBBL, Women’s Caribbean Premier League, and Hundred Women’s Competition. In the WBBL, Amanda has appeared in 142 matches, claiming 157 wickets at an economy of 6.78. She also has ten international wickets from eight international T20 games. Her base price in the WPL auction is INR 30 lakh.
Nicola Carey is a veteran bowler with 136 appearances in the WBBL, in which she has picked 137 wickets. Not to forget, despite identifying as a bowler, she has 1,661 runs at a strike rate of 102.59. Carey has also played 27 T20 international games for the Baggy Greens, claiming 19 wickets with a figure best of 3/15 in an innings. Nicola’s base price at the auction is INR 30 lakh.
