WBBL draft: Deepti, Jemimah among first-round picks
The Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) draft saw six Indian players being selected in the initial three rounds. The first-round picks included Deepti Sharma and Jemimah Rodrigues. Sharma was the fourth pick of the day by Melbourne Stars, while Rodrigues was chosen as the seventh player in this round by Brisbane Heat. Several other foreign picks were also made in this round. Here are further details.
Other notable first-round picks in WBBL draft
The WBBL draft also saw international players being selected in the first round. Danni Wyatt was the inaugural player chosen, by Hobart Hurricanes. Sydney Sixers secured premier spinner Sophie Ecclestone, while Adelaide Strikers opted for Laura Wolvaardt. Sydney Thunder picked Heather Knight and Deandra Dottin, who recently reversed her international retirement, was selected by Melbourne Renegades.
Indian players continue to shine in WBBL draft
The second round of the WBBL draft saw Shikha Pandey become the third Indian player to be selected, signed by Brisbane Heat. Adelaide Strikers chose not to participate in this round while Perth Scorchers retained Amy Jones. The third round began with Hemalatha Dayalan being picked by Perth Scorchers, and Melbourne Stars signing India wicketkeeper Yastika Bhatia.
Pre-signed players and fourth-round picks in WBBL draft
Smriti Mandhana, who had been pre-signed by Adelaide Strikers, was also picked in the third round of the WBBL draft. The fourth round saw four teams - Hobart Hurricanes, Melbourne Stars, Melbourne Renegades and Perth Scorchers - pass on their selections. However, Adelaide Strikers chose Ireland's Orla Prendergast while Nadine de Klerk was selected by Brisbane Heat as the final player in the draft.
First-round picks in the WBBL draft
First-round picks in the WBBL draft: Deepti Sharma - Melbourne Stars, Jemimah Rodrigues - Brisbane Heat, Danielle Wyatt - Hobart Hurricanes, Sophie Ecclestone - Sydney Sixers (Retention), Heather Knight - Sydney Thunder (Retention), Laura Wolvaardt - Adelaide Strikers (Retention), Deandra Dottin - Melbourne Renegades, Sophie Devine - Perth Scorchers (pre-signed player).
Second-round picks
Second-round picks: Chloe Tryon - Hobart Hurricanes, Amelia Kerr - Sydney Sixers, Hayley Matthews - Melbourne Renegades, Marizanne Kapp - Melbourne Stars, Shabnim Ismail - Sydney Thunder, Passed - Adelaide Strikers, Shikha Pandey - Brisbane Heat, Amy Jones - Perth Scorchers (Retention).
Third-round picks
Third-round picks: Hemalatha Dayalan - Perth Scorchers, Passed - Brisbane Heat, Alice Capsey - Melbourne Renegades, Chamari Athapaththu - Sydney Thunder (pre-signed player), Yastika Bhatia - Melbourne Stars, Smriti Mandhana - Adelaide Strikers (pre-signed player), Passed - Sydney Sixers, Lizelle Lee - Hobart Hurricanes (pre-signed player).
Fourth-round picks
Fourth-round picks: Passed - Hobart Hurricanes, Hollie Armitage - Sydney Sixers, Orla Prendergast - Adelaide Strikers, Passed - Melbourne Stars, Georgia Adams - Sydney Thunder, Passed - Melbourne Renegades, Nadine de Klerk - Brisbane Heat, Passed - Perth Scorchers.
