STATS: England Players At WBBL03

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After the long World Cup summer, followed immediately by the Women’s Ashes, the English contingent at the WBBL was reduced to just 5 this season – so at (roughly) the half-way point in the season, how have they all been doing?

The leading English player this term has undoubtedly been Katherine Brunt at the Scorchers, who has taken 11 wickets at a very economical 4.78 runs-per-over – this ranks her 2nd overall in WBBL, behind only Dane van Niekerk with 16 wickets at 5.37.

Also at the Scorchers, Nat Sciver ranks 10th overall with the bat, having hit 197 runs at a Strike Rate of 132. (Though to put this in a little perspective, 8 players have scored over 50 runs at a better Strike Rate.) However, Sciver has been much less successful with the ball – she has bowled 22 overs in all (only one less than Brunt) but has taken just 2 wickets, conceding an expensive 9.45 runs-per-over.

Opening the batting with Suzie Bates for the Strikers, Tammy Beaumont has been a solid performer, averaging 24; whilst at the Stars, Georgia Elwiss has made herself a reliable presence in the middle-order, including a match-winning (and player-of-the-match-winning) 59* against the Renegades last weekend.

Finally, Lauren Winfield has had a bit of a nightmare with the Hurricanes, who are propping-up the table without a win so far. Winfield started the season opening the batting, but has subsequently slipped down into the middle-order – it doesn’t seem to have helped much though, and she currently averages just 9 with a top score of only 15.

Tammy Beaumont
Adelaide Strikers
Runs: 195
Highest Score: 46
Strike Rate: 98

Katherine Brunt
Perth Scorchers
Runs: 68
Highest Score: 29
Strike Rate: 81
Wickets: 11
Economy: 4.78

Georgia Elwiss
Melbourne Stars
Runs: 118
Highest Score: 59*
Strike Rate: 105
Wickets: 2
Economy: 7.94

Nat Sciver
Perth Scorchers
Runs: 197
Highest Score: 84
Strike Rate: 132
Wickets: 2
Economy: 9.45

Lauren Winfield
Hobart Hurricanes
Runs: 72
Highest Score: 15
Strike Rate: 80

 

 

2 thoughts on “STATS: England Players At WBBL03”

  2. For what it’s worth here’s my report card so far. I would have expected the top four sides at this stage to include the Sixers, Scorchers, Thunder, and one from the others, probably Strikers, Heat or Renegades. So far the Sixers and Scorchers, whilst looking strong in a few games, have struggled a lot too, and really need to pick up more points or be in serious danger of missing out on the semis. In contrast the Strikers and Heat have done better than I expected with some fantastic performances and pulled off some memorable wins.

    We’ve seen some wonderful matches and a lot of close ones too recently. Just last night in the Sixers vs. Thunder game, although the scores were relatively low, there were at least 5 or 6 outstanding catches taken between the sides, with Thunder coming out on top in the end thanks largely to 48 from Stalenburg. Thunder look very likely to qualify in the top 2 spots. They’re a strong side on paper, and barring the odd aberration such a wayward over from Carey here and there and a few unnecessary slogs, they’ve performed pretty well. Sixers however have been strangely quiet since their blockbusting opening to the season.

    Heat’s form has defied my predictions to some extent. Mooney has been sensational and on her day, which is quite often, appears to be the best T20 batsman in the world. I still think there’s an element of inconsistency to the Heat though, they’ve had a couple of very low scores when Mooney hasn’t contributed much. For this reason I don’t think they’ll win it, as they’re likely to falter either in the semis or final. But they’re looking strong contenders to qualify.

    Strikers have been one of the surprises of WBBL03 so far. They’ve played well very often, and both their batting and bowling line-up have fired regularly. I think the presence of Bates, and Charlotte Edwards’ coaching too has made a big difference. Schutt and Wellington have been effective with restricting scoring and taking wickets. Also, some talented young players like McGrath, Saville, Sutherland and Price have started to show what they have. I do have doubts over some of their middle-order players though. But it looks like they might make it into the semis this time.

    To me the hapless Hurricanes don’t look anywhere near stringing a chain of wins together and look entirely devoid of form or confidence. Playing like this they may be a worse side than any in either season of the the KSL so far. The overseas players haven’t fired much at all and the Aussie players have been nowhere near recreating the form of the past 2 years, when the Hurricanes were real contenders under Heather Knight’s captaincy. The loss of Knight, Sattherthwaite, and the underrated Erin Burns, has affected the side’s batting greatly. Pyke has been in poor form with bat and ball, and their middle order has rarely turned up. They could take some important lessons from the Stars on how to turn things round when under pressure, but as it stands their season has been the proverbial “nightmare”. The question now is can the Canes even pick up any wins at all? Confidence and form would have to improve quite a lot to do so.

    Stars, after a bad start, have kept plugging away and managed to pick up some points. I don’t think they’ll qualify, but at least they’ve shown some spirit and fight. Given that they have one of the weaker sides on paper, with a somewhat hit-or-miss batting line-up and lacking firepower with the ball, it was always going to be a challenge to compete with the likes of Sydney Thunder.

    Scorchers have flattered to deceive. A great side on paper, they’ve come out on the wrong side of close games too often, and are now under real pressure to beat the Strikers in the next game. They will also need to put the Hurricanes away in both matches afterwards, and may then find themselves facing off against Sixers and Heat for qualification.

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