The Cricketer picks an XI of the top performers in the 2019 Women's Big Bash - the first time that the tournament has been held as a standalone competition
It’s hard to think that the New Zealander could have done any more to end up on the winning side at the end of the first ever standalone Women’s Big Bash. Nobody scored more runs than her 769 and nobody made more than her nine half centuries.
How her Adelaide Strikers teammates will regret her early final dismissal. Only three players took more wickets than her 19 – a phenomenal individual effort.
If Devine couldn’t come out on top, then the Australian left-hander was a thoroughly deserving alternative. She followed a second T20I century in September against Sri Lanka with a fine WBBL. Only Devine outscored her, while her unbeaten 56 in the final was a knock of composed maturity.
Others might have panicked when faced with a healthy chase in a title-decider; she knocked the ball around effortlessly, allowing others to take advantage. It was a display that encapsulated her tournament; she only hit two sixes, preferring to keep the ball on the ground – she struck 82 fours. 743 runs at 74.30 – a fine effort.
Given the almost absurd standards set by the Australia captain, she may well be disappointed with her ultimate return of 531 runs at 40.84. Yet, for mere mortals that would represent a terrific effort.
Still, there was time for a supreme century against Hobart Hurricanes, as well as four further scores above fifty. Her Perth Scorchers side finished just a single win behind the top two in a hugely competitive tournament. She will have a new coach next year, with Lisa Keightley leaving for England.
Needless to say, Sydney Sixers must regret the moment Perry leapt to attempt a catch against Melbourne Renegades. She landed awkwardly, falling on her shoulder. She has not played since. The world’s best cricketer and, in the view of many, the finest of all time in the women’s game.
Nine games into this competition, she was averaging 93.80 with the bat and had been dismissed just five times. Against Melbourne Stars, she and Alyssa Healy put on an unbroken 199 for the first wicket. She only managed four wickets, with sides content to see her off – she was taken at just 5.80 runs per over. What might have been if she had remained fit…
Jess Duffin captained Melbourne Renegades
There were a fair few options to fill this fifth batting spot, but the South African nabs it on account of her unbeaten 103 against Perth Scorchers. Only one other player in the match passed 26. It was, arguably, the innings of the tournament. After that, she was inconsistent; there were scores of 70 and 62, but also of 6, 6 and 0. Still a fine campaign for the 27-year-old.
It has been four years since Jess Duffin wore the green and gold. There were 117 caps up until that point, but none more recently than that. In 2015, Duffin announced that she was taking a break from the game, in the main for her own mental wellbeing, she reflected this week.
A dual sportswoman, she also plays AFLW for North Melbourne and was an All-Australian last season. After becoming the first Renegades player to score 500 runs in a WBBL season – as captain as well, Matthew Mott’s Australia side may well be a phone call away.
A left-field shout, perhaps, but the South African allrounder was particularly brutal in her role as a middle-order finisher. She lies a long way down the overall list of top run-scorers – she made only 248 in 13 innings, but she did so at an astonishing rate.
She played the most selfless hand for her team; a high score of 46 hardly does justice to her contribution – her runs came at a strike rate of 178.41. She only faced 139 deliveries across the entire competition, but struck 38 boundaries – 26 fours and 12 sixes. In other words, one every 3.66 balls. You do wonder whether Hobart could have made more of her lusty, daredevil approach…
Belinda Vakarewa took 20 wickets for Hobart Hurricanes
Behind Devine, you’d have to look seriously hard to find anyone to have had a better tournament than Jonassen. After a long search, you wouldn’t find anyone. With so much competition for places in the Australian ranks, Jonassen showed off her all-round talents. She took 22 wickets with her left-arm spin – the second-most of anyone, while making 419 runs, including a title-securing 33 in the final. A mightily fine cricketer.
Hardly the most penetrative operator in this composite side, but almost certainly the canniest. Fifteen wickets in 16 games is nothing special, but it was her economy rate of just 5.60 runs per over that slots her into this side.
Nobody bowled more than her three maidens; nobody across the entire tournament was entrusted with bowling more overs. A key cog in an Adelaide wheel that, for so long, looked like it might bring home a maiden WBBL title.
The Australian 21-year-old has bowled just four overs in international cricket, and they came two years ago in her sole appearance for Australia – a 50-over World Cup clash against Sri Lanka.
Her 20 wickets represent a terrific coming-of-age tournament for the seamer; her spell of 4 for 19 against Sydney Sixers might even have been a coming-of-age spell. There, she blasted out Alyssa Healy, Hollie Armitage, Ashleigh Gardner and Erin Burns to leave the two-time champions 29 for 4. International cricket will see far more of her.
It is easy to forget, but the Australian off-spinner has an international five-wicket haul. Here, under the captaincy of Duffin, Strano thrived. Nobody took more wickets. Not since Sarah Aley took 26 wickets in the 2016/17 edition of the tournament has anyone reached the tally of 24 achieved by Strano.
It is hard to spot an immediate route back into international cricket for the 27-year-old however, with Ashleigh Gardner, Jess Jonassen, Sophie Molineux and Georgia Wareham all ahead in the spin-bowling stakes.
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