Photo Credit: Perth Scorchers
Perth Scorchers have rounded out their list for the 2022-23 Weber Women’s Big Bash League season, securing the signatures of four promising local players in Amy Edgar, Maddy Darke, Georgia Wyllie and Charis Bekker.
Zoë Goss medallist Edgar, who played in Perth’s WBBL|07 title-winning campaign, has re-signed with the Club for two years following a career-best Women’s National Cricket League season in 2021-22.
A hard-hitting right-hander with excellent composure under pressure, Edgar now also presents as a bowling option after taking seven wickets from as many WNCL games with her off-spin.
Keeper-batter Darke joins on a one-year deal and has WBBL experience, having previously represented Sydney Sixers and Melbourne Stars.
The compact opener showed excellent signs for WA during the WNCL, scoring at a decent pace against the new ball on several tricky surfaces. Darke’s glovework proved just as important.
Wyllie, who also signed a one-year deal, was part of Perth’s squad for WBBL|06 and took significant strides forward in 2021-22, making her State debut in the WNCL with new ball in hand.
A left-arm swing bowler, Wyllie is capable of generating movement in the air and off the surface, and hits the ball cleanly in the lower-middle-order.
Bekker, meanwhile, franked her rise from WA’s academy pathway program with a two-year Scorchers contract.
The 18-year-old allrounder was outstanding during her first WNCL tournament in 2021-22, taking five wickets from five innings and maintaining a tidy economy rate (4.33) with her left-arm orthodox spin.
Upon signing for Perth, Edgar said:
“I’m really excited, it’s a great group to be involved in.
“It’s really nice to watch international stars like Beth Mooney, Alana King, Sophie Devine, Marizanne Kapp and Maddy Green go about their business and to see how professional they are.
“I’m always looking to learn and get better, and having those sorts of world-class players in your team is only going to make it happen faster.”
Darke said:
“It’s pretty cool, joining the reigning champions. For me, the familiarity with the group and continuity across the whole program is something I’m really looking forward to, as well.
“As a keeper-batter, I couldn’t ask for a better mentor than Beth Mooney. I’m looking forward to learning a few things about the temperament of batting and being a leader in the innings, as well as managing everything with the gloves as well.
“I’ve heard Shelley’s amazing. I played under her a little bit as an under-ager and really appreciated those brief snippets so it’ll be really cool to link up again a few years down the track.”
Wyllie said:
“It means everything. I’m really excited. What a group to be part of!
“I think by being part of a group like that, you’re automatically going to learn a lot and get better, and they’re really good humans in that team. I’ll just be a sponge and ask as many questions as I can.
“Shelley is one of the best coaches I’ve played under and what she brings to the team is incredible.”
Bekker said:
“It’s an awesome opportunity, and I want to learn everything from the whole side, and talk to everyone as much as possible about the game.
“I learned a fair bit playing against some experienced players in the WNCL, as well.”
Perth Scorchers WBBL Head Coach Shelley Nitschke said:
“It’s great to have so much young talent on board for WBBL|08.
“We saw Amy’s ability as a hard-hitting batter during last year’s WNCL season, and her bowling has come on in leaps and bounds.
“Maddy has plenty of talent and offers us valuable depth with the bat and gloves, and can learn from one of Australia’s best keeper-batters in Beth Mooney.
“Georgia’s ability to swing the new ball is exciting, while her desire to learn from and share the success of her teammates is something the whole squad will cherish.
“And Charis’ potential as a young spin-bowling allrounder is something all Scorchers fans should be excited about.”
The Scorchers will begin their title defence on Sunday 16 October against Sydney Thunder at Blacktown International Sportspark.
Perth Scorchers’ WBBL Squad:
Charis Bekker
Mathilda Carmichael
Piepa Cleary
Maddy Darke
Sophie Devine (NZ – captain)
Amy Edgar
Holly Ferling
Maddy Green (NZ)
Marizanne Kapp (RSA)
Alana King
Lilly Mills
Beth Mooney
Taneale Peschel
Chloe Piparo
Georgia Wyllie
Name of Author: Perth Scorchers
The Perth Scorchers are an Australian men’s Twenty20 cricket team competing in the Big Bash League. Based in Perth, Western Australia, they wear an orange uniform and play their home games at Perth Stadium.
