Updated WBBL|02 squads for each club

The second edition of the Rebel Women's Big Bash League promises to be bigger and better than the first, with more games to be broadcast by Network Ten and more double headers played alongside the KFC Big Bash League.

With the schedule confirmed and less than a month remaining until the action gets underway, clubs are now busy finalising their playing squads for the tournament beginning on December 10.

Quick single: Blockbuster weekend to launch WBBL|02

Each club can sign 15 players for WBBL|02, including five current or recent Southern Stars, or up to three overseas players in place of the equivalent number of Australian players.

To qualify as an Australian player, they must have represented the Southern Stars between July 1, 2013 and July 1, 2016.

As it stands, here are the squads for each club:

Adelaide Strikers

The Strikers welcome England great Charlotte Edwards to Adelaide Oval this summer, with the former international captain moving from Perth Scorchers.

Adelaide have also confirmed they'll be hanging on to their Southern Star spearhead Megan Schutt, who will form a formidable new-ball attack with former Australian seamer Sarah Coyte, who has also re-signed.

Up-and-coming leg-spinner Amanda Wellington and medium pacer Samantha Betts will also return, while 18-year-old Alice Springs big-hitter Tabatha Saville joins the Strikers for WBBL|02.

Image Id: 7F7EA0887BAD48D3BFC653FAA253D5F8 Image Caption: Schutt is a force to be reckoned with // Getty

Adelaide have yet to confirm who will fill their remaining international slots, but they would be very keen to retain the services of New Zealand star Sophie Devine.

In: Charlotte Edwards (Scorchers), Tabatha Saville, Katelyn Pope

Out: Lauren Ebsary (Scorchers)

Retained: Samantha Betts, Sarah Coyte, Megan Schutt, Amanda Wellington, 

Brisbane Heat

The Heat have added some serious international firepower for WBBL|02, signing explosive West Indies allrounder Deandra Dottin and rising India star Smriti Mandhana.

Mandhana became the second India player to join the WBBL ranks when she signed with the Heat, while fans should look forward to seeing more of Windies entertainer Dottin, who made a fleeting appearance as a replacement player for the Scorchers last summer.

Image Id: DFD3135390864F2C98D52265D245C7B8 Image Caption: One of the great entertainers: Dottin // Getty

Brisbane have locked in their five internationals, with Australia quick Holly Ferling, allrounder Jess Jonassen and wicketkeeper-batter Beth Mooney all re-signing. Their pace stocks will also be strengthened with the addition of Kara Sutherland from the Sydney Sixers.

Image Id: ~/media/3BE85769B9BA42339C5BFDF09ADA0D9E Image Caption: Star power: Jonessen and Ferling // Getty

However, the Heat have bid farewell to Southern Stars allrounder Grace Harris, who has made the move to Etihad Stadium to join Melbourne Renegades, while they'll also be without Ash Barty, who has returned to tennis after her foray into cricket last summer.

In: Smriti Mandhana (India), Deandra Dottin (West Indies), Kara Sutherland (Sixers)

Out: Ash Barty, Grace Harris (Renegades), Kate Cross (England), Lauren Winfield (England)

Retained: Jemma Barsby, Holly Ferling, Courtney Hill, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Beth Mooney

Hobart Hurricanes

WBBL|01 semi-finalists Hobart have retained the bulk of their squad for the second edition of the tournament, with England captain Heather Knight returning to lead the Hurricanes.

Fellow internationals Hayley Matthews and Amy Satterthwaite will also be back on the 'Cane train this summer, as the Hurricanes aim to go one further after being knocked out of the finals by the Sixers last tournament.

Georgia Redmayne the sole new face to date, while the Hurricanes hope to fill with the final spot on their list with a local Tasmanian player who has impressed with performances in club and intrastate cricket.

In: Georgia Redmayne

Out: Emily Smith (Scorchers)

Retained: Julie Hunter, Veronica Pyke, Heather Knight (England), Erin Burns, Corinne Hall, Emma Thompson, Brooke Hepburn, Katelyn Fryett, Meg Phillips, Sasha Moloney, Celeste Raack, Hayley Matthews (West Indies), Amy Satterthwaite (New Zealand)

Melbourne Renegades

Change is afoot at the Renegades, who will head into WBBL|02 with a new captain and a new marquee player.

New Zealand star Rachel Priest returns this summer to take over the captaincy from Sarah Elliot, while the Renegades have added some much-needed firepower to their batting ranks with the signing of Australian allrounder Grace Harris.

Harris was the first and only player to score a century in the first edition of the WBBL, while England allrounder Danni Wyatt has also confirmed she will return to the Renegades this summer.

The 'Gades have also secured a slew of their young talent, including allrounder Sophie Molineux, who earned Australia A honours and a Victoria contract after her breakout WBBL|01.

The Renegades have yet to confirm who will fill their remaining international berths, and it remains to be seen whether South African pair Dane van Niekerk and Shabnim Ismail will make a return, but the club promises more signing news is on the way very soon.

Image Id: ~/media/D1EAA058A3EA48A8A221F39D7B946A05 Image Caption: Sophie Molineux is a player to watch // Getty

In: Grace Harris (Heat), Nicole Goodwin, Maitlan Brown, Tayla Vlaeminck

Out: TBA

Retained: Kris Britt, Kirsty Lamb, Sophie Molineux, Rachel Priest (New Zealand), Georgia Wareham, Danni Wyatt (England)

WBBL|01 squad: Briana Binch, Kris Britt, Cassie Brock, Nicola Hancock, Shabnim Ismail (OS), Erika Kershaw, Kirsty Lamb, Sophie Molineux, Rachel Priest (OS), Molly Strano, Jenny Taffs, Dane van Niekerk (OS), Danni Wyatt (OS)

Melbourne Stars

The Melbourne Stars could be in for a big summer, if the form of their three confirmed internationals is anything to go by.

The Stars have won the race for the prized signature of former Australian batter Jess Cameron, and the batter - who has returned to cricket this summer after a break from the game - has already been in fine form, scoring a century for Victoria late last month.

Captain Meg Lanning scored a record-breaking 190 in the same match, while leg-spinner Kristen Beams is brimming with confidence after a breakthrough tour of Sri Lanka, which saw her snaffle 16 wickets in five matches.

Image Id: ~/media/85EC7C6B2ADA45D7B48450A10C0CC035 Image Caption: Lanning, Kearney and Cameron // Melbourne Stars

Lanning's opening partner Katie Mack will also return, alongside dual sportswoman Emma Kearney and up-and-coming spinner Alana King.

In: Jess Cameron

Out: TBA

Retained: Kristen Beams Emma Kearney, Meg Lanning, Alana King, Katie Mack

Perth Scorchers

The world's No.2 ranked T20 bowler Anya Shrubsole was nowhere to be seen in WBBL|01, with the England quick preferring to spend her off-season training at home.  

But in news that will thrill Perth fans, Shrubsole is headed to The Furnace this summer, where she will join fellow England spearhead Katherine Brunt to form what has to be the most exciting pace bowling attack in the competition.

Image Id: 3273137182C14E1E9729A3AF2BAD4A71 Image Caption: Shrubsole is a star // Getty

The bowling department was a weakness for the Scorchers last summer and Shrubsole's addition could be exactly what's needed to improve on their WBBL|01 semi-finals appearance.

Their star-studded batting line-up remains intact, with Australia's ODI opening partnership of Nicole Bolton and Elyse Villani joined by New Zealand skipper Suzie Bates, who has been enjoying a golden year with the bat.

Image Id: ~/media/E7883EB8B39D4DC58C21C9EE056305A0 Image Caption: Suzie Bates and Nicole Bolton

Perth have also added the experience of former South Australia captain Lauren Ebsary to the mix, while Hockeyroo Mathilda Carmichael's foray into cricket will see her pad up in orange this summer.

In: Mathilda Carmichael, Lauren Ebsary (Strikers), Emily Smith (Hurricanes)

Out: Nicky Shaw, Jenny Wallace (both retired), Deandra Dottin (Heat), Charlotte Edwards (Strikers)

Retained: Megan Banting, Suzie Bates (OS), Emma Biss, Nicole Bolton, Katherine Brunt (England) Piepa Cleary, Heather Graham, Katie Hartshorn, Emma King, Chloe Piparo, Anya Shrubsole (England), Elyse Villani

Sydney Sixers

The Sixers went vertical last season, turning a horror start to the season into a WBBL|01 final appearance.

They'll welcome back their two biggest current Australian names this summer in Ellyse Perry and Alyssa Healy, while Southern Stars legend Lisa Sthalekar will also be back.

With their remaining international spots yet to be confirmed, the Sixers would likely be eager to hang on to the likes of South Africa's Marizanne Kapp and New Zealand star Sara McGlashan.

The Sixers have also confirmed some of their brightest young talents will return - including Shooting Star Ashleigh Gardner - while they'll have at least two new faces in Haylee Hoffmeister and Carly Leeson.

In: Haylee Hoffmeister, Carly Leeson

Out: Kara Sutherland (Heat)

Retained: Sarah Aley, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Emily Leys, Lauren Smith, Lisa Sthalekar

Sydney Thunder

The reigning champions have struck two major blows ahead of WBBL|02. The first came when they won the prized signature of India vice-captain Harmanpreet Kaur, beating out a host of other clubs eager to sign the star, who was also the first Indian to sign with a WBBL team.

The second came when the Thunder announced West Indies captain and T20 player of the year Stafanie Taylor will return this summer.

Everything Taylor has touched as seemingly turned to gold this year, as she claimed the WBBL|01 title with the Thunder, took out the Women's World T20 with the Windies, before topping both the batting and bowling tables in the inaugural England women's Super League. 

The Thunder's other Australian stars will be back in skipper Alex Blackwell, spinner Erin Osborne and quicks Lauren Cheatle and Rene Farrell.

Young spinner Maisy Gibson has re-signed, as has powerful batter Naomi Stalenberg, whose outstanding WBBL tournament last summer resulted in an Australian T20 debut in Adelaide in January.

In: Harmanpreet Kaur

Out: TBA

Retained: Alex Blackwell (captain), Nicola Carey, Lauren Cheatle, Stef Daffara, Rene Farrell, Maisy Gibson, Erin Osborne, Naomi Stalenberg, Stafanie Taylor