Final WBBL|03 squads for each club

The lists are finalised and, with the WBBL03 opening weekend just four days away, another summer of Big Bash action is just around the corner.

The eight Rebel WBBL clubs have locked in 15 signatures after starting with a clean slate in the third edition of the Twenty20 competition, with multi-year contracts on the table for the first time.

The Big Bash contracting period, which commenced on August 4, has seen some shock moves - none bigger than former Melbourne Stars captain Meg Lanning crossing to Perth Scorchers - offered new faces a fresh chance and secured returning favourites for another summer. Some big overseas signings will go around again, including big-hitting India allrounder Harmanpreet Kaur for Thunder and Heat's West Indies star Deandra Dottin, while others, like Renegades' Sri Lankan signing Chamari Atapattu, will make their WBBL debut.

Each club set out with the licence to roster up to five marquee players, inclusive of the overseas and Australian Women's Cricket Team players 

'Australian Players' are those who have represented the Southern Stars in at least 10 limited-overs matches in the three years prior to Cricket Australia announcing the national contract list on April 24. Scroll down for a full list of relevant players.

Image Id: 236AA96ECA3A4616BEA4B3952491AB17 Image Caption: Former Stars captain Meg Lanning has crossed to Perth Scorchers // Getty

Adelaide Strikers

The Strikers finalised their 15-player roster for WBBL|03 early and the biggest news is the signing of former Perth Scorchers captain Suzie Bates. The star allrounder and current New Zealand captain joins her White Ferns teammate Sophie Devine in blue this summer. Devine, who smashed 103 from 48 balls in a WBBL|02 match, will spend her third season at Adelaide Oval, while England opener Tammy Beaumont will again play for the Strikers. Australian seamer Megan Schutt and leg-spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington have also re-signed.

The Strikers have also signed former Sydney Sixer Rhiannon Dick, while South Australian teenagers Ellie Falconer and Annie O’Neil have earned their first WBBL contracts.

Current squad: Rhiannon Dick, Annie O’Neil, Ellie Falconer, Tammy Beaumont (Eng), Suzie Bates (NZ), Sophie Devine (NZ), Megan Schutt, Amanda Wellington, Samantha Betts, Tahlia McGrath, Katelyn Pope, Alex Price, Tabatha Saville, Tegan McPharlin, Bridget Patterson

Ins: Suzie Bates (Scorchers), Rhiannon Dick (Sixers), Ellie Falconer, Annie O'Neill 

Outs: Sarah Coyte, Charlotte Edwards, Sarah Elliot, Shelley Nitschke (all retired)

Brisbane Heat

Commonwealth Bank Women's Ashes T20 star Beth Mooney will be looking to carry her blistering form through for the Heat this summer on the back of Australian women's T20 record-braeking knocks for the Southern Stars.

She will spearhead a strong batting line-up at Heat, including the likes of Kirby Short, West Indies allrounder Deandra Dottin and the returning Grace Harris, who made a big impact the inaugural WBBL season with the Brisbane-based side before a summer away with Melbourne Renegades.

Dottin headlines an extensive list of WBBL|02 players that have signed on for the team in teal again, including Australian duo Mooney and Jess Jonassen, who have both committed to another three seasons.

Current squad: Beth Mooney, Jess Jonassen, Grace Harris, Deandra Dottin (WI), Holly Ferling, Kara Sutherland, Georgia Prestwidge, Delissa Kimmince, Jemma Barsby, Haidee Birkett, Sammy-Jo Johnson, Tess Cooper, Laura Harris, Kirby Short, Courtney Hill

Ins: Grace Harris (Renegades)

Outs: Smriti Mandhana

Hobart Hurricanes

There has been a slight changing of the guard at the Hurricanes, but the team in purple will be confident it can make finals for a third consecutive time in the WBBL. They will unveil some new international signings in WBBL|03 with England opener Lauren Winfield and India batter Veda Krishnamurthy signing on. Middle-order batter Corinne Hall will take on the captaincy after signing a two-year deal, with the Hurricanes quick to secure many of their WBBL|02 players.

Among the departures are former Australia seamer Julie Hunter, who has retired, while Erin Burns and New Zealand international Amy Satterthwaite have found new homes interstate.  

Heather Knight was not offered a playing contract as she sits out the season to recover from an injury, but will take on a mentoring role at the club.

Current squad: Corinne Hall (C), Emma Thompson, Erin Fazackerley, Brooke Hepburn, Georgia Redmayne, Veronica Pyke, Katelyn Fryett, Celeste Raack, Sasha Moloney, Veda Krishnamurthy (Ind), Lauren Winfield (Eng), Meg Phillips, Stefanie Daffara, Nicola Hancock, Hayley Matthews

Ins: Veda Krishnamurthy, Lauren Winfield, Stefanie Daffara (Thunder), Nicola Hancock

Outs: Erin Burns (Sixers), Julie Hunter (retired), Amy Satterthwaite (Renegades), Heater Knight (injured)

Melbourne Renegades

The Renegades went big on recruiting over the contracting period as they looked to bolster their exciting young core with some more experienced heads as they strive for a maiden finals berth.

Their batting stocks were the big beneficiary, with record-breaking Sri Lankan batter Charmari Atapattu signing on, while former Melbourne Star Jess Duffin has made the switch to the crosstown rival for WBBL|03 and will look to have a major impact after undergoing shoulder surgery in the off-season.

Atapattu, who smashed an unbeaten 178 against Australia during the World Cup earlier this year, is looking forward to her first taste of the WBBL competition.

Victorian wicketkeeper Emma Inglis has also switched allegiances this summer, also joining the Renegades from the Stars, while ACT Meteors allrounder Claire Koski joins the mix.

The Renegades will have a new skipper in WBBL|03, with New Zealand international Amy Sattherwaite jumping ship from the Hurricanes, while former captain Rachel Priest has moved north to Sydney Thunder. Sattherwaite has signed a three-year deal with the club, while the Renegades have also re-signed fellow Kiwi Lea Tahuhu, and enticed former Stars player Hayley Jensen to don the red. 

Current squad: Amy Satterthwaite (C) (NZ), Molly Strano, Sophie Molineux, Jess Duffin, Leah Tahuhu (NZ), Hayley Jensen, Emma Inglis, Maitlan Brown, Claire Koski, Georgia Wareham, Chamari Atapattu (SL), Tayla Vlaeminck, Kris Britt, Rhiann O'Donnell, Jennifer Taffs

Ins: Jess Duffin (Stars), Hayley Jensen (Stars), Amy Satterthwaite (Hurricanes), Emma Inglis (Stars), Claire Koski (Thunder), Chamari Atapattu (SL), Rhiann O'Donnell, Jennifer Taffs

Outs: Grace Harris (Heat), Rachel Priest (Thunder), Nicole Goodwin, Kirsty Lamb, Natalie Plane, Annabel Sutherland (Stars), Dannielle Wyatt, Amy Yates

Melbourne Stars

The Melbourne Stars will field a new-look team this summer. Gone are former captain Meg Lanning (Scorchers) and Duffin (Renegades), with the Stars appointing Australia leg-spinner Kristen Beams skipper for WBBL|03.

WBBL|01 Star Mignon du Preez returns to the club after a year away, bringing with her South Africa teammate Lizelle Lee, who will don the keeper's gloves and also bolster the Stars' batting stocks. England allrounder Georgia Elwiss is the club's third overseas signing, while Australia off-spinner Erin Osborne, who has moved south from Sydney Thunder, rounds out the five marquee players for the club.

Despite the loss of some quality players, the Stars will look to their recruits and remaining core from WBBL|02  as they strive to break out of fifth spot, which they have occupied in the first two seasons of the WBBL and make their first finals appearance.

Beams, who was part of the Australia team which retained the Women's Ashes, signed a three-year deal with the team in green.

Current squad: Kristen Beams (C), Makinley Blows, Hayleigh Brennan, Mignon du Preez (SA), Georgia Elwiss (Eng), Nicole Faltum, Emma Kearney, Alana King, Anna Lanning, Lizelle Lee (SA), Katie Mack, Erin Osborne, Gemma Triscari, Chloe Rafferty, Annabel Sutherland

Ins: Mignon du Preez, Georgia Elwiss, Lizelle Lee, Erin Osborne (Thunder), Nicole Faltum, Chloe Rafferty, Annabel Sutherland (Renegades), Kristen Beams (injured)

Outs: Jess Duffin (Renegades), Hayley Jenson (Renegades), Meg Lanning (Scorchers), Morna Neilsen, Natalie Sciver (Scorchers), Emma Inglis (Renegades), Lily Bardsley, Danielle Hazell

Image Id: 06056EA5F1E148D6A2C64A0875C5D037

Perth Scorchers

The Scorchers pulled off the biggest coup in WBBL history, luring Australia captain Lanning for the next three seasons. While the injured star is expected to sit out WBBL|03 as she recovers from shoulder surgery, the superstar batter will be a valuable inclusion among the group and will be a big factor in the Scorchers' hopes in WBBL|04 and WBBL|05.

The burnt orange team has also signed two of England's biggest stars for WBBL|03, with the re-signing of pace spearhead Katherine Brunt, who claimed nine wickets across the Women's Ashes, and exciting allrounder Natalie Sciver making the move across from the Stars.

The big signings shape an all-star international cast, helping cover the loss of New Zealand's Suzie Bates, who has departed for the Strikers.

Image Id: ACAAEA7C5A57446C950295E3D7CC0A25 Image Caption: Katherine Brunt (right) has re-signed // Getty

The Scorchers have also signed Australian batters Nicole Bolton and Elyse Villani to multi-year deals and given Lanning's injury, thave added New Zealand's Thamsyn Newton as their overseas replacement player.

Current squad: Nicole Bolton, Katherine Brunt (Eng), Meg Lanning, Elyse Villani, Megan Banting, Mathilda Carmichael, Piepa Cleary, Lauren Ebsary, Heather Graham, Mikayla Hinkley, Emma King, Chloe Piparo, Natalie Sciver (Eng), Emily Smith, Katie Hartshorn

Ins: Mikayla Hinkley (Thunder), Meg Lanning (Stars), Natalie Sciver (Stars)

Outs: Suzie Bates (Strikers), Emma Bliss, Anya Shrubshole

Overseas replacement player: Thamsyn Newton (NZ), for Meg Lanning (shoulder)

Sydney Sixers

The Sixers look as strong as ever as they prepare to defend their WBBL title. The magenta team re-signed Australian contracted players Ellys Perry, Alyssa Healy and Ashleigh Gardner, and lured rising fast bowler Lauren Cheatle away from Sydney Smash rival Thunder.

Cheatle is set to have a delayed start to the summer, however, with a bone stress injury in her lower back ruling her out for the rest of 2017. The 19-year-old quick, who was the first player to sign a multi-year WBBL deal with the Sixers, committed to the reigning champions until the end of WBBL|05.

South Africa internationals Dane Van Niekerk and Marizanne Kapp, and New Zealand's Sara McGlashan, who were all part of the WBBL|02 championship side, will front up again for the Sixers. 

Squad: Ellyse Perry (C), Sarah Aley, Erin Burns, Lauren Cheatle, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jodie Hicks, Marizanne Kapp, Carly Leeson, Emily Leys, Sara McGlashan, Ange Reakes, Lauren Smith, Dane Van Niekerk, Clara Iemma

In:  Erin Burns (Hurricanes), Lauren Cheatle (Thunder), Clara Iemma

Out:   Rhiannon Dick (Strikers), Lisa Sthalekar, Haylee Hoffmeister

Sydney Thunder

The Thunder have added a mix of experience and exciting youth to its squad for WBBL03. Former Melbourne Renegades captain and wicketkeeper Rachel Priest has signed on, with the New Zealander to be joined by mature recruit Lisa Griffith and talented young prospects Rachel Trenaman, Hannah Trethewy and Hannah Darlington.

Rachael Haynes has followed her appointment as stand-in Australian cricket captain by re-signing with the Sydney Thunder, alongside Aussie vice-captain - and Thunder skipper - Alex Blackwell.

Both Blackwell and Haynes, who will lead Australia in the Commonwealth Bank Women's Ashes in Meg Lanning's absence this summer, have signed two-year contract extensions.

Current squad: Alex Blackwell (C), Sam Bates, Nicola Carey, Hannah Darlington, Maisy Gibson, Lisa Griffith, Rachael Haynes, Rachel Priest, Naomi Stalenberg, Harmanpreet Kaur, Rachel Trenaman, Hannah Trethewy, Belinda Vakarewa, Rene Farrell, Stafanie Taylor

Ins: Lisa Griffith, Rachel Priest (Renegades), Rachel Trenaman, Hannah Trethewy, Hannah Darlington

Outs: Stef Daffara (Hurricanes), Mikayla Hinkley (Scorchers), Claire Koski (Renegades), Erin Osborne (Stars), Lauren Cheatle (Sixers)

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The players deemed to be 'Australian Players' under the League's guidelines are as follows: Kristen Beams, Alex Blackwell, Nicole Bolton, Jess Cameron, Sarah Coyte, Rene Farrell, Holly Ferling, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Meg Lanning, Beth Mooney, Erin Osborne, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani.