Photo Credit: BCCI
New coach, new captain and perhaps the competition’s most dynamic opening pair have the Scorchers feeling positive ahead of WBBL|06
The Scorchers were the major players in the WBBL|06 contracting period, signing last season’s two highest run scorers in Devine and Mooney following the departure of Australia captain Meg Lanning, who returned to the Stars.
It gives the WBBL|05 semi-finalists a seriously stacked batting line-up, with the pair joined by Amy Jones, experienced international Nicole Bolton and rising allrounder Heather Graham, while leg-spin bowling England allrounder Sarah Glenn also has impressive credentials.
“I think it’ll be Soph and I at the top of the order which will be really exciting,” Mooney said.
“The one thing that excites me (most) about the Scorchers is the balance and depth we’ve got within our batting order.
“Even someone like Sarah Glenn, who just won Player of the Series against West Indies, whacked a few batting at six and seven for England (last month) so she’ll be a really handy allrounder for us.”
Meanwhile, new Scorchers head coach Shelley Nitschke is confident the club has the bowling firepower to match its star-studded batting line-up
The side has former Australia A representatives in pacers Piepa Cleary, Taneale Peschel and Graham, who also has a solitary ODI to her name, and off-spinners Bolton, Jemma Barsby and Emma King.
“We’ve got some really good options,” Nitschke told cricket.com.au.
“We’ve got a balanced bowling unit with Sarah Glenn coming over … the ball going away from the right-hander is going to be an asset for us and I think Piepa Cleary will be really important for us.
“She’s had a really good preseason and I’m looking forward to her getting a full season in after missing most of last season (with a broken ankle).
“I think everyone is going to play a role because everyone offers something a little bit different.”
Squad:
Sophie Devine (c) (NZ)
Beth Mooney (Aus)
Sarah Glenn (Eng)
Amy Jones (Eng)
Megan Banting
Jemma Barsby
Nicole Bolton
Samantha Betts
Mathilda Carmichael
Piepa Cleary
Heather Graham
Emma King
Taneale Peschel
Chloe Piparo
Georgia Wyllie
