Cricket Australia: Thunder claim Kapp in first ever WBBL Overseas Draft

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Cricket Australia
Cricket Australia
Cricket Australia (CA), formerly the Australian Cricket Board (ACB), is the governing body for cricket in Australia. Established in 1905 as the Australian Board of Control for International Cricket, CA manages all national teams, including Men's, Women's, and Youth sides, as well as other national teams. It oversees the organization of Test matches, ODIs, and T20Is, and coordinates home international fixtures.

Photo Credit: Perth Scorchers

The Sydney Thunder have claimed South African Marizanne Kapp as pick one in the inaugural Weber WBBL|09 Overseas Player Draft.

Arguably the leading all-rounder in the game, Kapp will pull on the lime green for the first time having spent the last two seasons with the Perth Scorchers.

Despite the best efforts of the Melbourne Renegades to pinch New Zealand big hitter, Sophie Devine, the Scorchers elected to retain their superstar captain. 

The Renegades were able to hold onto Hayley Matthews with their pick, while cross-town rivals the Melbourne Stars elected to have their star all-rounder, Alice Capsey return for WBBL|09. 

Speedster Shabnim Ismail found a new home in Hobart, while Amelia Kerr will stay in Brisbane after being selected by the Heat. 

Spinning all-rounder, Chloe Tryon was picked up by the Sydney Sixers to round out the first round with the Strikers opting to pass. 

Round two saw the Strikers use a retention pick on Laura Woldvaardt, while Heather Knight (Thunder), Harmanpreet Kaur (Renegades) and Maia Bouchier (Stars) all return to familiar surrounds. Bryony Smith found a home at the Hurricanes, while Danni Wyatt will feature for the Scorchers for the first time in WBBL|09.

The English trio of Dani Gibson (Strikers), Lauren Bell (Thunder) and Bess Heath (Heat) were the only players picked up in round three, while New Zealand’s Jessica Kerr (Sixers) was the sole pick in the final round. 

The full list of players selected in the Weber WBBL|09 Draft is:

Round One

1. Sydney Thunder: Marizanne Kapp

2. Perth Scorchers: Sophie Devine (retained)

3. Melbourne Renegades: Hayley Matthews 

4. Melbourne Stars: Alice Capsey

5. Hobart Hurricanes: Shabnim Ismail 

6. Brisbane Heat: Amelia Kerr

7. Sydney Sixers: Chloe Tryon

8. Adelaide Strikers: Pass

Round Two

9. Sydney Thunder: Heather Knight

10. Melbourne Renegades: Harmanpreet Kaur

11. Perth Scorchers: Danni Wyatt 

12. Adelaide Strikers: Laura Woldvaardt (retained)

13. Melbourne Stars: Maia Bouchier 

14. Hobart Hurricanes: Bryony Smith

15. Brisbane Heat: Pass

16. Sydney Sixers: Pass

Round Three
17. Adelaide Strikers: Dani Gibson

18. Sydney Thunder: Lauren Bell

19. Brisbane Heat: Bess Heath

20. Hobart Hurricanes: Pass

21. Melbourne Stars: Pass

22. Perth Scorchers: Pass

23. Melbourne Renegades: Pass

24. Sydney Sixers: Pass

Round Four

25. Sydney Sixers: Jessica Kerr

26. Melbourne Renegades: Pass

27. Perth Scorchers: Pass

28. Melbourne Stars: Pass

29. Hobart Hurricanes: Pass

30. Brisbane Heat: Pass

31. Sydney Thunder: Pass

32. Adelaide Strikers: Pass

The WBBL Draft offers players the option of nominating to be directly contracted by a Club after the Draft only. If a player opts for a direct nomination, they are not available to be selected by a Club during the Draft. The contracting period for direct signings begins at 9am tomorrow.

If a player opts for this approach and is directly contracted by a Club after the Draft, the player’s retainer cannot exceed more than 95% of the amount a Club must pay a Silver Overseas Player.  

The following players have submitted direct nominations in the Weber WBBL|09 Overseas Player Draft: 

  • Suzie Bates (New Zealand) 
  • Tammy Beaumont (England) 
  • Sophia Dunkley (England) 
  • Mignon du Preez (South Africa) 
  • Lizelle Lee (South Africa) 
  • Amy Jones (England) 


Alistair Dobson, Cricket Australia’s General Manager, Big Bash Leagues, said:
“A big congratulations must go to Marizanne Kapp on being the first player picked in the inaugural WBBL Overseas Play Draft. 

“It was a star-studded list of players to choose from and obviously a tough choice for the Scorchers to make in terms of who they’d retain, but Marizanne is a world-class player and we’re wrapped to have her back in the WBBL this season.

“It was pleasing to see some new faces picked up, with the likes of Lauren Bell and Dani Gibson set to feature in the tournament for the first time.

“There’s no doubt the first WBBL Draft has been a huge success and we look forward to seeing how the BBL Draft plays out this evening.”

Tickets are now on sale for all Weber WBBL|09 and KFC BBL|13 games, with early bird pricing for KFC BBL matches available until 24th October. To buy tickets, visit our website.

The Weber WBBL|09 season begins on October 19. View the full schedule here.  

The KFC BBL|13 season will begin on December 7. View the full schedule here

Fans are encouraged to stay up to date with the ltest information on the Big Bash seasons, including tickets and, memberships and the Drafts via our website and the Australian Cricket Family. Not already an ACF member? Sign up here

Name of Author: Cricket Australia

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