WBBL preview: A look at how the RCB Women line up in various other threads

In less than a few hours from now we are all set to welcome the latest edition of Women’s Big Bash League, where five of our Royal Challengers will be in action. One of the first franchise leagues to welcome the franchise model of women’s cricket, WBBL has played an instrumental role in shaping up women’s cricket, unearthing many diamonds in the rough. That said though, the WBBL has also given a stage for household names to shine, and here we take a look at what to expect from the big names who will take part in this edition and are also a part of the RCB-W squad in the Women’s Premier League (WPL).

Ellyse Perry – Sydney Sixers

Perry will be leading the Sixers into another edition of this tournament. The Sixers finished at the top of the points table after the group stages in the last edition of the tournament with 11 victories from 14 games. Perry was their leading run-scorer in the last edition with 408 runs amassed at a strike rate of 119.64 and an average of 40.80. She also picked six wickets with the ball and her recent form includes scores of 70, 40 and unbeaten 20 and 29 in the recently concluded bilateral series against West Indies. She would be raring to take the yard for another sensational season of the tournament.

Erin Burns – Sydney Sixers

Another experienced star as part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore, Erin Burns is also a part of the Sixers and was instrumental in adding stability to their batting unit in the last season. She scored 295 runs in the preceding edition of the tournament at a strike rate of 145.32 and an average of 32.77. She didn’t bowl much though, only clinching a solitary wicket. Her recent performance for New South Wales women against the Queensland Women was sensational, where she clinched four wickets while scoring 31 runs.

Sophie Devine – Perth Scorchers

The captain of the Scorchers, the Kiwi sensation will be hoping to bring her might and fury to the WBBL. In the preceding edition of the tournament, she didn’t have her best outing, scoring 182 runs from 14 matches at a strike rate of 97.32. However, she was sensational with the ball as he claimed eight wickets at an economy rate of 7.20. Devine was in sizzling touch in the recently concluded maiden edition of the WCPL, finishing as the top run-getter, while also shining for New Zealand against South Africa with an unbeaten 61.

Megan Schutt – Adelaide Strikers

Schutt almost proved to be unplayable in the last season of WBBL as she finished with most wickets from the tournament. Propelling the Strikers to second place with eight wins from 14 matches in the group stages, Schutt clinched 27 wickets at an economy rate of 6.39. She had best figures of 6/19 that proved to be a blazing testimony to her unplayable aura in 2022. 

Heather Knight – Sydney Thunder

This is going to be Heather Knight’s first season for Sydney Thunder. After finishing last in the preceding edition of the tournament, Knight’s inclusion will be bringing all-round stability to the side. A capable middle-order batter and a crafty off-spinner, Knight proved her worth for RCB and will be keen to make a massive impact at the Thunder.