Everything you need to get up to speed with how the Perth Scorchers are shaping up ahead of the first standalone season of the Rebel WBBL
WBBL|05 Fan’s guide: Perth Scorchers
Perth Scorchers missed the finals last season but key additions to their batting and bowling line-ups could bring a change in fortune for the team from the west.
A couple of familiar faces return to the Scorchers, with English opener Amy Jones back after appearing in orange in WBBL|04 and she’ll be joined by countrywoman Nat Sciver, who comes back after a hiatus from the WBBL last year.
There’s a hole in the batting left by Elyse Villani’s departure to the Stars, but they’ve found a handy recruit – and potentially someone to fight Jones for the ‘keeping gloves – in Australia A representative Georgia Redmayne, who moves across from the Hurricanes.
The bowling attack will be bolstered by the addition of Jemma Barsby from the Heat, while Kath Hempenstall is a pace bowler who, at 30 years old, is donning a Big Bash shirt for the first time since 2016.
WBBL|04 result: Fifth
Squad: Jemma Barsby, Samantha Betts, Nicole Bolton (Aus), Mathilda Carmichael, Piepa Cleary, Kim Garth (Ireland), Heather Graham, Kath Hempenstall, Amy Jones (Eng), Emma King, Meg Lanning (Aus)(c), Taneale Peschel, Chloe Piparo, Georgia Redmayne, Natalie Sciver (Eng)
In: Jemma Barsby (Heat), Samantha Betts (Strikers), Kath Hempenstall (WA), Georgia Redmayne (Hurricanes), Nat Sciver (Eng), Kim Garth (Ireland)
Out: Lauren Ebsary (retired), Elyse Villani (Stars), Megan Banting, Emily Smith, Kate Cross, Bhavish Devchand, Hayley Jensen
The word from Australia great and Fox Cricket commentator Mel Jones:
"The key to success for the Perth Scorchers will be squad depth. Whether or not those England players stay there for the entire time, everyone gets injuries at different times as well, if they can find a couple of younger players to step up and fill the gaps when needed, I think the Scorchers will go all right."
One to watch: Heather Graham. She topped the wickets tally last season and has since forced her way into the Australian squad, touring the West Indies before making her one-day international debut against Sri Lanka. She was the 2018-19 Domestic Player of the Year for her performances for the Scorchers and Western Australia, and will be looking to build on another year of experience with the National Performance Squad, Australia A and then the Australia.
The pressure is on: Meg Lanning. The Australia captain has, surprisingly, never played a WBBL finals match. She’s got firepower to back her up this season in Jones, Sciver, Bolton, Graham and Redmayne, but Perth will still need big runs from their skipper if they’re to claim a berth in the top four.
Possible starting XI: Meg Lanning (c), Amy Jones, Nicole Bolton, Natalie Sciver, Heather Graham, Georgia Redmayne, Jemma Barsby, Chloe Piparo, Piepa Cleary, Emma King, Kim Garth
Fixtures
Check out the full WBBL|05 fixture here
October 23 v Renegades, Junction Oval (1pm)
October 26 v Heat, AB Field (1.10pm)
October 27 v Strikers, AB Field (9.40pm)
November 1 v Renegades, WACA (5.40pm)
November 2 v Stars, WACA (3.55pm)
November 9 v Strikers, Karen Rolton Oval (1.40pm)
November 10 v Thunder, Karen Rolton Oval (10am)
November 12 v Thunder, WACA (5.30pm)
November 17 v Heat, Drummoyne Oval (10am)
November 20 v Stars, Junction Oval (2pm)
November 23 v Sixers, Lilac Hill, Perth (10am)
November 24 v Sixers, Lilac Hill, Perth (10am)
November 30 v Hurricanes, Lilac Hill, Perth (2pm)
December 1 v Hurricanes, Lilac Hill, Perth (2pm)
All times local
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