2022 Kiwi-WBBL: Undefeated Starts For Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine and Maddy Green
Women's Big Bash League is cruising along in Australia led by Suzie Bates in a stacked Sydney Sixers batting line up, plus Sophie Devine and Maddy Green with Perth Scorchers. Sixers (3-0) and Scorchers (2-0) are the only undefeated teams from the first week of action. Hobart Hurricanes (2-1) are third with Hayley Jensen and the Kerr sisters have helped Brisbane Heat (2-1) to fourth. Lea Tahuhu's Sydney Thunder (0-3) are yet to win a game.
Tahuhu seems to be in a tricky patch of T20 bowling as she has not taken a wicket in her last five T20 fixtures. This stretches out to her last 10 games where Tahuhu has taken 4w split between two games, leaving eight games without wickets. Combine that with a losing start for Thunder in WBBL08.
Jensen has only taken 2w in her most recent game for Hurricanes, not taking a wicket in her first two games. Jensen has been the most economical bowler for Hurricanes (4.11rpo) and also offers nifty hitting, which could see her develop into a key figure for Hurricanes.
Jess and Amelia Kerr are playing their roles for a strong Heat team Aussie spinner Jess Jonassen is the only Heat bowler with more wickets than Jess (4w @ 5.25rpo/18sr) and Amelia (4w @ 7.41rpo/18sr). Only 11 bowlers have taken 4+ wickets and these three Heat bowlers are in that group, forming a dynamic bowling unit.
Jess is yet to bat, while Amelia has scored 47 runs @ 120.51sr. This is a notable leap up from her T20I career strike-rate of 99.76 and also higher than 112.19sr across 170 T20 games. Three other Heat batters have scored 40+ runs with strike-rates over 120, so Kerr's mahi is aligned with her comrades. Tracking how Kerr expands her batting continues to be a major Aotearoa cricket wrinkle.
Only four batters have been required for Scorchers in their two wins. Devine's combo with Beth Mooney led Scorchers to a championship last season and they are opening together again, with Devine hitting 44* @ 104.76sr in the first game. Devine only scored 4 runs in the next game and it was Green's turn to showcase her crisp striking with 32* @ 200sr.
Green batted third in the first game and finished 15* @ 78.94sr, before batting fourth in the second game. Devine also has a wicket in both games as part of a Scorchers bowling unit led by Marizanne Kapp and Alana King's leggies. Devine took 10w @ 7.25rpo/16.2sr last season and that efficiency is equally as valuable as her powerful batting.
What happens when you put the leading T20I run-scorer into an All-Aussie Sixers batting unit? Three wins and lots of fun. Bates has an 82* @ 122.38sr as her leading knock so far and sits fourth for runs, second to Ellyse Perry in Sixers batting. Erin Burns has added herself into this Sixers batting extravaganza as she has more runs than Alyssa Healy and Ash Gardner, although Healy and Gardner will explode with runs at some point.
Join the Niche Cache Patreon whanau to support our kiwi sports content straight up, get a karma boost and find extra podcasts.
Every Monday and Friday we fire off an email newsletter with bonus content. Sign up here!
Peace and love.