Sydney Thunder: Athapaththu named in Weber WBBL|09 Team Of The Tournament

Photo Credit: Sydney Thunder

Chamari Athapaththu has been named in the Weber WBBL|09 team of the tournament after finishing the group stages as the second leading run-scorer.

The Sri Lankan power hitter, a late overseas replacement player, struck 511 runs in 13 innings, with an average of 42.58 and five half-centuries, as well as chipping in with nine crucial wickets.

Athapaththu was one of only four players in the side to have earned selection by all eight Club head coaches.

This season’s top five run scorers as well as the top three wicket takers have all earned selection. After a strong WBBL|09 campaign with 476 runs and 14 wickets, as well as leading her side to a second-place finish in the regular season, Perth Scorchers’ captain Sophie Devine, has been selected to lead the side.

WBBL|09 BKT Golden Bat winner and the competition’s all-time leading run scorer, Beth Mooney, has earned another team of the tournament selection after a brilliant campaign.

Mooney cemented her place as the best batter in WBBL history by scoring 539 runs this season, including a 101*, to add to her competition total of 4647.

BKT Golden Arm winner Sophie Day has also been named in the side, after a career-best 27 wicket campaign doubled her WBBL career wickets, taking her to total of 53.

The Weber WBBL|09 Team of the Tournament is:

Mooney is joined at the top of the order by the Strikers’ Katie Mack who scored 449 runs this campaign, including a WBBL career best 86.

The side features a power-packed middle order, with Devine joined by star all-rounders Ellyse Perry and Annabel Sutherland. Perry led her side in both runs (496) and wickets (13) this season, while Sutherland stood out for the Stars with 288 runs and 23 wickets.

They are followed in the order by Scorchers’ all-rounder Amy Edgar, who finished the season with 20 wickets and 82 runs, Strikers’ spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington who took 20 wickets, including a 3-4 innings against the Melbourne Stars, and Scorchers’ rising star Chloe Ainsworth who ended with a 15 wickets to her name.

Sixers’ Lauren Cheatle and the season’s leading wicket taker Sophie Day lead the bowling attack. Cheatle’s impressive 21 wicket season caught the attention of the Australian selectors, while Day was the bedrock of the Stars’ bowling attack this season, with 27 wickets including an exceptional 5-25 innings against the Sixers.

Brisbane Heat’s all-rounder Charli Knott was named 12th, with her 18-wicket campaign taking her to 137 WBBL career wickets.

Alistair Dobson, Cricket Australia’s General Manager, Big Bash Leagues, said:

“Congratulations to all 12 players selected in the Weber WBBL|09 Team of the Tournament.

“The side boasts powerful batting and skillful bowling and would be competitive against any opponents worldwide. With so many domestic players being named in the side, the team reflects the depth of Australian cricket and the strength of the WBBL competition.

“Many of the players selected are contenders in the Finals series this week, ensuring we are in for some brilliant cricket and tough competition to conclude the best WBBL season to date.”

Weber WBBL|09 Team of the Tournament selection panel: Jonathan Batty (Stars), Jude Coleman (Hurricanes), Charlotte Edwards (Sixers), Becky Grundy (Scorchers), Simon Helmot (Renegades), Lisa Keightley (Thunder), Ashley Noffke (Heat), Luke Williams (Strikers)

Tickets go on sale for the Weber WBBL|09 Finals series today at 12:00pm local time in both the Perth and Adelaide host markets. Tickets are available at cricket.com.au/big-bash/

Sydney Thunder