WPL 2023 TEAM GUIDE: UP Warriorz have a four-pronged spin attack led by Sophie Ecclestone, and the one of the quickest seamers in the world in Shabnim Ismail. Those strengths mean a potentially lightweight top order, however. NICK FRIEND takes a look
Captain: Alyssa Healy
Coach: Jon Lewis
Headliners
Alyssa Healy: The Australia wicketkeeper is a serial winner at international level and with Sydney Sixers, while with the bat she is one of the most destructive hitters in the game; she took the 2020 T20 World Cup final away from India in the first 10 overs of the game.
Deepti Sharma: The decision to go big on Sharma as the centre-point of this team is an interesting move, with Warriorz drawn in by her all-round ability, which includes useful off-spin and a left-handed finisher with the bat. She cost Warriorz £260,000 at auction.
Sophie Ecclestone: Would surely have gone for more had she come up earlier in the auction, the England spinner is the best in the world at what she does and is an absolute banker for any captain. An improving lower-order hitter to boot, she will be key for Lewis, her coach with England too.
One to watch
It was good to see Devika Vaidya earn well from the auction; the India allrounder went for £140,000, reward for her perseverance and resilience as much as her multifaceted skillset. She is a useful leg-spinner and, like Sharma, a left-handed batter in the middle order.
Australia batter Alyssa Healy [Marco Longari/AFP via Getty Images]
Why they'll win the WPL
Other than Delhi, this feels like the best-assembled team on paper, with plenty of bases covered and some interesting super-strengths.
The combination of Ecclestone, Vaidya, Sharma and Rajeshwari Gayakwad is as strong a spin quartet as exists in the competition, while the signing of Soppadhandi Yashasri secured for the long term a high-potential Indian fast bowler, who impressed at the Under-19 World Cup.
Anjali Sarvani is the left-arm seam option – she was the first left-arm seamer to represent India in a T20I – and Shabnim Ismail needs no introduction.
The South African fast bowler is at the top of her game and bowling as fast as she ever has done; she was in terrific rhythm during the World Cup. Tahlia McGrath was UP's high-end overseas allrounder of choice – all five teams have one – while with the bat Shewta Sehrawat is another who enjoyed herself at the Under-19 World Cup.
Kiran Navgire is a quality domestic batter, albeit with limited international experience.
India allrounder Deepti Sharma [Rodger Bosch/AFP via Getty Images]
Why they won't win the WPL
Healy apart, it's not necessarily a top six of guaranteed runs: Sehrawat has looked superb at age-group level but is taking a step-up, while Navgire's brief international career hasn't produced many runs so far.
McGrath hardly faced a ball at the World Cup other than in sparkling fifty against South Africa; it might take her some time to establish her rhythm.
They will struggle to squeeze the excellent Grace Harris in, which says plenty for the undeniable quality of their overseas contingent, while Lauren Bell is a smart reserve for Ismail, with Lewis a big fan. He needs Healy to fire.
Squad: Sophie Ecclestone, Deepti Sharma, Tahlia McGrath, Shabnim Ismail, Alyssa Healy, Anjali Sarvani, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Parshavi Chopra, Shweta Sehrawat, S Yashasri, Kiran Navgire, Grace Harris, Devika Vaidya, Lauren Bell, Laxmi Yadav, Simran Shaikh
Likely line-up: Healy, Sehrawat, Navgire, McGrath, Vaidya, Sharma, Ecclestone, Ismail, Yashasri, Sarvani, Gayakwad
Fixtures: March 5 – Gujarat Giants, March 7 – Delhi Capitals, March 10 – Royal Challenges Bangalore, March 12 – Mumbai Indians, March 15 – Royal Challenges Bangalore, March 18 – Mumbai Indians, March 20 – Gujarat Giants, March 21 – Delhi Capitals
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