Defending WBBL champions, the Adelaide Strikers, have secured India’s star opener, Smriti Mandhana, for the upcoming season. Mandhana joins the Strikers as a pre-draft signing and will represent her fourth WBBL team, having previously played for Brisbane Heat, Hobart Hurricanes, and Sydney Thunder. Notably, during her 2021 season with Thunder, she scored an unbeaten 114 off 64 balls against Melbourne Renegades, the second-highest individual score in the tournament’s history. Earlier this year, Mandhana led Royal Challengers Bangalore to victory in the Women’s Premier League (WPL), with Luke Williams, who also coaches the Strikers, at the helm.
Mandhana expressed her excitement about joining the Strikers, stating that she always enjoys playing in Australia and is eager to contribute to a team with a strong history of success. She also mentioned her enthusiasm for reuniting with Williams, reflecting on their previous rewarding experiences together.
The Strikers have long sought to bring Mandhana to their team, though she opted out of last year’s draft to manage her workload. While she is expected to miss the first few matches due to an ODI series against New Zealand following the T20 World Cup, she will be available for the remainder of the season, including the finals if the Strikers qualify in their quest for a third consecutive title.
Luke Williams, head coach of the Strikers, praised Mandhana as an exceptional talent, highlighting her technical skill, experience, and strategic insights as significant assets to the team. He noted her dedication and energy, both on and off the field, as invaluable qualities that will contribute to the team's success in the upcoming season.
In addition to signing Mandhana, the Strikers may further bolster their top order in the draft on September 1, where they hold retention rights for South African captain Laura Wolvaardt. However, if Mandhana is allocated as their first-round platinum player, they would forfeit the ability to use their retention rights in the same round.
Ahead of the draft, the Strikers have also made a trade with Melbourne Renegades, exchanging picks 19 and 30 for picks 22 and 27. The Strikers hold the sixth pick in the first round and the 14th in the second.
WBBL Pre-Draft Signings:
- Adelaide Strikers: Smriti Mandhana
- Brisbane Heat: Nadine de Klerk
- Hobart Hurricanes: Lizelle Lee
- Melbourne Renegades: Hayley Matthews
- Melbourne Stars: Marizanne Kapp
- Perth Scorchers: Sophie Devine
- Sydney Sixers: Amelia Kerr
- Sydney Thunder: Chamari Athapaththu