Photo Credit: Sydney Thunder
Another group of international stars have thrown their hat in the ring ahead of the Weber WBBL|09 and KFC BBL|13 Overseas Player Drafts as tickets go on sale to the 2023/24 summer of Big Bash.
Pace quartet Shabnim Ismail (South Africa), Jess Kerr (New Zealand), Pooja Vastraka (India) and Kate Cross (England) will be hoping to return to the WBBL, with Cross the only player not eligible for retention having previously played single seasons for both the Perth Scorchers and Brisbane Heat.
One of the most feared bowlers in the women’s game having recorded the fastest delivery at a World Cup earlier this year, clocking 128kmh, Ismail joins international captains, Harmanpreet Kaur, Hayley Matthews and Chamari Athapaththu as retention options for the Melbourne Renegades, while the Brisbane Heat may choose to retain either Kerr or Vastraka.
Clubs will have an array of bowling options in the KFC BBL|13 Draft, with Chris Jordan, Reece Topley (England), Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afghanistan), Akeal Hosein (West Indies), Tabraiz Shamsi and Imran Tahir (South Africa) all completing their nominations.
Jordan (Sixers), Hosein and Mujeeb (Renegades) can be retained by their former Clubs, however fast bowler, Topley, number 12 ranked T20I bowler, Shamsi and former South African spinner, Tahir are free agents.
Fans can ensure they witness the world’s best T20 players going head-to-head by securing their Big Bash tickets from midday (AEST) today, with early bird pricing for KFC BBL matches available until 24th October. To buy tickets, visit our website.
The Weber WBBL|09 season begins on Thursday, October 19 at North Sydney Oval with Sydney Sixers taking on Melbourne Stars under lights, while KFC BBL|13 gets underway on Thursday, December 7 with last year’s finalists, Brisbane Heat hosting Melbourne Stars at the Gabba.
Alistair Dobson, Cricket Australia’s General Manager of Big Bash Leagues, said:
“The calibre of players nominating for the upcoming Drafts is really exciting and its no doubt going to give Clubs some tough decisions to make.
“We know how much overseas players love coming to Australia and taking part in the WBBL and to have another four world-class athletes return is a testament to that.
“Fans should be excited about some of the new faces we’re seeing nominate for the BBL Draft and with a shortened season, I encourage them to secure their tickets to what’s building as a cracking summer of Big Bash action.”
About Retention Picks
Players in both the WBBL & BBL Overseas Player Drafts will be an eligible retention player if they fit any of the following criteria:
- Have been in a Big Bash team squad for a minimum of two seasons and haven’t been contracted to another team since
- Have been in a Big Bash team squad the previous season
- Was in a team squad last season but did not play in the starting 13 and have been approved by the Big Bash Technical Committee
- Is otherwise approved by the Big Bash Technical Committee due to exceptional circumstances
WEBER WBBL|09 & KFC BBL|13
The Weber WBBL|09 season begins on October 19. View the full schedule here.
The KFC BBL|13 season will begin on December 7. View the full schedule here.
Fans are encouraged to stay up to date with the latest information on the Big Bash seasons, including tickets and, memberships and the Drafts via our website and the Australian Cricket Family. Not already an ACF member? Sign up here.
