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And how many batters have managed a hundred in each Test of a three-match series?

Steven Lynch04-Jul-2022Has anyone scored as many runs as Jonny Bairstow in the New Zealand series at a higher run rate? asked Mike Bullivant from England

In the three Tests against New Zealand, Jonny Bairstow scored 394 runs from 328 balls, a rate of 120.12 per 100 balls. No one has scored more runs in a series more quickly: the nearest is Bairstow’s current captain Ben Stokes, with 109.01 – 411 from 377 balls – in South Africa in 2015-16.The only man known to have scored 300 runs in a Test series at a faster rate is Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi, who hammered 330 off 272 balls – 121.32 per 100 – at home against India in 2005-06. For the full list, click here (note that an asterisk, such as the one against Clive Lloyd’s run-rate figure, means our data is incomplete).I noticed that in a shortish career as opener, John Campbell has been at the crease several times when West Indies have won a Test. Which opener has done this most often? asked Davo Kissoondari from Guyana

The West Indian opener John Campbell may have played only 20 Tests so far, but has now been at the crease six times when the winning hit was made, including both matches against Bangladesh last month. This compares well with a rather more famous Jamaican opener, Chris Gayle, who was also in at the end of a West Indian win on six occasions – but played 103 Tests in all.Only eight openers have been batting at the moment of victory in more Tests, and the fewest matches any of them played was 74 (Michael Slater, who was there for seven wins). Another famous West Indian leads the way by some distance – Desmond Haynes was at the crease at the end of 18 Test victories. Matthew Hayden was there for 11, and Gordon Greenidge for ten.Haynes’ 18 is the most by anyone, opener or not: Ricky Ponting is second with 13, while Jacques Kallis was in at the moment of victory on 12 occasions.Daryl Mitchell scored a century in each match of the England series. How many people have done this? asked Kelly McLeod from New Zealand

New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell was the seventh man to score a century in each match of a three-Test series, following Ken Barrington (England vs Pakistan in 1967), Shoaib Mohammad (Pakistan vs New Zealand in 1990-91), Matthew Hayden (Australia vs South Africa in 2001-02), Mohammad Yousuf (Pakistan vs West Indies in 2006-07), Ross Taylor (New Zealand vs West Indies in 2013-14) and Virat Kohli (India vs Sri Lanka in 2017-18).But two men have scored a century in each match of a four-Test series: Kallis, for South Africa against West Indies in 2003-04, and Steven Smith, for Australia vs India in 2014-15.No one has managed a hundred in each match of a five-Test series: Clyde Walcott did score five centuries for West Indies in the home series against Australia in 1954-55, but two of them came in the second Test in Port-of-Spain.Jacques Kallis made a hundred in each of the four Tests against West Indies in 2003-04•Touchline/Getty ImagesApparently only one Englishman has made two full Ashes tours of Australia and not played a Test there – who is he? asked Norman Davis from England

There’s only one man who fits the bill here – but he isn’t, strictly speaking, an Englishman! The tall Northamptonshire fast bowler David Larter toured down under in 1962-63 and 1965-66, but couldn’t force his way into the Test side on either tour. He was born in Inverness, in Scotland, but his family moved to Suffolk when he was ten.Larter did have some success in the ten Tests he managed between injury problems, taking 37 wickets, with a best of 5 for 57 – and nine in the match – on debut against Pakistan at The Oval in 1962.Northamptonshire wicketkeeper Laurie Johnson rated him highly. Interviewed for Larter’s 2021 biography Bowling Fast, he summed up: “It was always interesting keeping to David Larter, as he was different from other quick bowlers in that he could extract bounce from a length. He was a great trier and, on his day, when everything clicked and conditions were in his favour, he could be as quick as Frank Tyson (for whom I used to stand back the full length of the wicket).”Recurring injuries proved too much in the end, at a time when off-field support was less sophisticated than it is now. The unfortunate Larter retired from county cricket in 1967, still only 27. “It was useless trying to carry on,” he wrote. “I played only four games last summer because of a damaged left ankle, and it broke down again in our knockout cup game against Bedfordshire. If I can’t stand up for one match it’s pointless trying to play in three-day games. My ankle will just not stand being jarred.”It didn’t quite happen at Edgbaston, but when was the last time the captain batted at No. 11 in a Test? asked Rajendra Sharma from India

It didn’t happen at Edgbaston because India’s Jasprit Bumrah, in his first match as captain, went in at No. 10 rather than his customary 11 – and did rather well, breaking the record for most runs in an over in a Test.The last captain to go in last in a Test was Sri Lanka’s Suranga Lakmal, against England in Pallekele in 2018-19. The last to do it regularly was Courtney Walsh, on 14 occasions for West Indies in the late 1990s.For the full list, click here (this includes some innings where the captain was injured or did not bat).Shiva Jayaraman of ESPNcricinfo’s stats team helped with some of the above answers.Use our feedback form, or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

He has built a reputation of being a serial title-winner in T20 cricket and despite a successful last season is positive his best is yet to come

Deivarayan Muthu10-Oct-2022There’s a bit of R Ashwin about R Sai Kishore. The left-arm fingerspinner relishes bowling across phases and keeps upgrading his skills to get up to speed with T20 cricket.Sai Kishore broke into the Tamil Nadu side as a powerplay specialist from the TNPL, but over the last two seasons he has also fronted up to bowl at the death, something that was on display during the IPL 2022 final.Related

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In the TNPL that followed, Sai Kishore often slid up the order for Chepauk Super Gillies as a pinch-blocker or a pinch-hitter, the same role that Ashwin performs for Rajasthan Royals. Sai Kishore has also pinch-blocked for Tamil Nadu in the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy, including the final against Himachal Pradesh last year.”I’ve always wanted to improve myself,” he tells ESPNcricinfo, ahead of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20s starting on October 11. “If this doesn’t work, I will go to the next aspect. Upgrading myself has been my driving force – it is not just playing for India and doing well at the IPL. Part of the conscious effort to turn into a better cricketer was working on my batting and be a better team man. If I can do a job with the bat for the team, the team can play an extra bowler. That is the thought process.”In 2018, I started batting at No. 10, slowly I could score 20-25 runs, and slowly people got the confidence that he could at least play and get some runs. It is not something natural, I’ve worked hard with R Prasanna [Tamil Nadu assistant coach] but 100% I will get there [as an allrounder].”ESPNcricinfo LtdThese are still early days in Sai Kishore’s career, but he has already built a reputation of being a serial winner in T20 cricket. He has won back-to-back IPL titles, first with Chennai Super Kings and then with Gujarat Titans, back-to-back Syed Mushtaq Ali titles with Tamil Nadu and back-to-back TNPL titles with Chepauk. Sai Kishore credited Tamil Nadu’s team culture for their transformation into a dominant white-ball force.”We have grown together, and nobody takes their place or the game for granted,” he says. “Nobody is a certain starter in this XI, you have to be that good in this team, and people coming through the ranks are aware of that. People have bought into the culture of bowling for the other guy and bowling for the team. Each one of them is ready to do the dirty work for the team. As long as we continue to do that, I feel Tamil Nadu being a dominant force in white-ball cricket will continue.”When T Natarajan was unavailable through injury last season, Sai Kishore himself did the dirty job of bowling at the death. That experience served him well in the IPL 2022 final when he was called up to bowl the 16th and 18th overs. He responded with the wickets of Ashwin and Trent Boult.”Definitely the experience of bowling at the death in Syed Mushtaq Ali helped me in the IPL,” Sai Kishore says. “I’m not trying to protect myself. The bowling analysis may sometimes say expensive, but as a spinner, you need guts to bowl at the death. Okay, I could get hit, so what? If the team feels I might be the best fit in this situation, I’m willing to do it and that has given me courage and experience.”So, when I bowled at the death in the IPL final, it wasn’t like ‘why I’m bowling here?’ I’m ready for it – I’ve done it for Tamil Nadu, I’ve done it in TNPL. Hopefully, through all these experiences and through these roles, I will get better.”ESPNcricinfo LtdFor someone who bowls in the powerplay and death, Sai Kishore’s overall T20 economy rate of 5.68 is particularly striking. In fact, it is the best by an Indian – and second best globally – among bowlers who have bowled at least 900 balls in T20 cricket. Sai Kishore downplayed his numbers, suggesting it was somewhat skewed because of his limited experience in the IPL.”When a batsman hits me for sixes, I often try to minimise the damage,” he says. “Sometimes you will be bowling well, and the batsman will not take you on. At the time, you should be more fearless and go for his wicket. At that point, you shouldn’t mind giving two sixes and should go for his wicket. I usually focus on these things and by doing this, my game-awareness has improved.”I don’t classify myself as an attacking spinner or defensive spinner; I believe T20 cricket is just about playing that situation. The stats are also [that good now] because I haven’t played much international cricket or IPL cricket. It’s largely domestic cricket, but hopefully, if I can replicate it more consistently at a higher level, it would be a great thing.”

I don’t know if the last year could’ve been any better. But with experience, I can get much better and I feel my best is yet to come.R Sai Kishore

Sai Kishore believes that working with a wristspinner – Rashid Khan at Titans and M Ashwin at Tamil Nadu – has also contributed to his success.”In a way, it plays into my hands and gives me a chance too. If a wristspinner keeps it tight, I will get wickets and if I keep it tight, he will get wickets. If both of us get hit, the team will lose (laughs). It’s been a good partnership with MAsh and Rashid – they always play for the team’s plans – and it has been easy bowling in tandem with them.”During his stint with Titans, Sai Kishore also tested himself against David Miller at the nets and developed greater confidence in bowling to left-handers. Against right-handers, he has an economy rate of 5.86 and an average of 20.38 and against left-handers an economy rate of 6.60 and average of 14 (where data is available).”When you bowl to a powerful guy like Miller, you will know what to do and what not to do as a left-arm spinner,” Sai Kishore says. “Ashish Nehra [Gujarat Titans coach] and Hardik [Pandya] backed me to bowl to left-handers in the IPL, they picked me because I can bowl to everyone and not just to right-handers. Ashish Nehra gave me that confidence and that goes a long way.”In the Indian domestic circuit also, there are a lot of good players of spin and the challenge is not just restricted to left-hand batters. A lot of these batters hit the ball in different pockets of the field and maybe once you get hit, next time you draw on the previous experience and come up better. So, I just see it as a learning experience, and you have to be fearless and back yourself against him.”Winning multiple T20 titles aside, Sai Kishore has had exposure as a net bowler with the India side in both white-ball and red-ball cricket. More recently in the season-opening Duleep Trophy, he emerged as the highest wicket-taker, with 17 strikes at an average of 20.05. And now at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he will be central to Tamil Nadu’s chances of doing a three-peat.”I don’t know if the last year could’ve been any better,” Sai Kishore says. “But with experience, I can get much better and I feel my best is yet to come.”

He often leaks runs in T20 cricket, but when conditions are even slightly in his favour – like in Napier on Tuesday – he can make things happen

Alagappan Muthu22-Nov-20221:46

Taylor: Siraj, Arshdeep and Bumrah could form a potent attack by 2024

Mohammed Siraj is a hard bowler to figure out.Go through his numbers and you’ll see a guy who leaks runs. He’s played six seasons of the IPL, and in three of them, he’s gone for at least nine an over.Check out some of his wickets though, and you’ll see a guy who keeps doing the one thing batters around the world absolutely hate. He surprises them.Related

• India clinch series after rain-hit tie in Napier

In 2021, he Test-cricketed Steven Smith in a T20 match. Squared him up. Got the edge. Waved him bye-bye. In 2018, bowling in the death to Andre Russell, perhaps the most fearsome power hitter of the modern era, he bounced him out. Too quick. Too good. Birthday boy gone for a golden duck. In 2020, he became the first bowler to bowl two maidens in an IPL game. Two weeks later, he recreated Dale Steyn vs Brad Haddin with a ball that Prithvi Shaw thought he had covered only for his off stump to scream at him otherwise.Labels are a big thing in sport. And the one that seems to fit Siraj is the guy in that meme that goes noooo, I don’t want that. I want whatever’s weirder than that.Seriously, there was a game last year, against Rajasthan Royals, where Siraj’s figures read 4-0-27-3. He bowled 16 dot balls in that spell. On a pitch where Royal Challengers Bangalore did not lose a single wicket while chasing down 178.He did, however, concede four fours and a six. That’s 22 out of 27 runs in boundaries. A bowler capable of making the opposition look completely unprepared for him has no business looking so deliciously hittable.On Tuesday, against New Zealand, Siraj produced a wicket with the second ball he bowled. Then another with his 17th. A couple more with his 19th and 23rd. And a pattern began to emerge.Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner – decent haul that•AFP via Getty ImagesA lot of Siraj’s success comes from hitting the deck hard. (He’s got other tricks, but let’s focus on this for now.) In India, where there’s not always a lot of sideways movement, it means you’re setting the batter up to get under the ball and hit you over the top. That’s why even though he gets all these cool wickets, he still keeps going for runs.Out here in Napier, on a pitch that was juiced up by a fair bit of rain, every time Siraj banged the ball in, it did unexpected things. Mark Chapman was looking to launch him over the short square boundary on the leg side, but instead the ball seamed away and took the leading edge.Siraj understood that he’d been given conditions that were right up his alley. He even said so in the interview between innings. All he wanted to do was bowl hard lengths, because that was what the batters were struggling to deal with. It’s probably the reason why he was so successful in Australia a couple of years ago. He was on his first tour of the country. A horde of his team-mates were out injured. And he emerged as their highest wicket-taker in a famous series win.Remember his five-for at the Gabba? He took out players who are bred on pace and bounce with pace and bounce. Smith practically recoiled from the ball that he ended up fending to gully. There’s the other thing about Siraj. He seems to lose very little pace after the ball bounces. Again, that in India means you come on to the bat nicely. In other places, Napier for example, you become the last thing a batter sees before he ends up in the pavilion.At the Gabba in early 2021, Siraj took out players bred on pace and bounce with pace and bounce•Getty Images and Cricket AustraliaGlenn Phillips had hit three sixes and two fours off the last 13 balls. He’d also brought up his third fifty-plus score in six innings. In short, he was in the zone. About three seconds later, he was kicked clean out of it.He took strike in the 16th over expecting a full delivery, because at McLean Park, which has 60m boundaries square of the wicket, that’s the least damaging length to bowl. Phillips was actually preparing to make light of that, his front-foot trigger movement taking him across off stump and rendering him in the perfect stance to sweep/scoop/slog everything to that short side of the ground.Siraj didn’t give him the fuller length. He went bouncer. And he could go that way because he’s quick. Not in the traditional 150kph way. But more in the Andrew Flintoff heavy ball kind of way. Phillips was very, very late on the hook and, as a result, none of his power went into the shot. Bhuvneshwar Kumar barely got to the ball running in from long leg.That wicket triggered New Zealand’s collapse. At one point, they lost six in the space of 12 balls for three runs, 130 for 2 became 160 all out.Siraj made that happen. He just makes things happen.

Harmanpreet Kaur to lead, Meg Lanning, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Hayley Matthews make the cut

S Sudarshanan27-Mar-2023

Hayley Matthews – Mumbai Indians

Her player-of-the-series outing in the inaugural WPL makes Matthews an overwhelming pick. She went unsold in the first round of the auction, eventually being picked up in the accelerated rounds. On the ground, she made an immediate impact, kicking off the WPL with a six and then never looking back. She was also effective with the ball, picking up 16 wickets in ten innings and also the Purple cap.Related

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Yastika Bhatia (wk) – Mumbai Indians

Even if she didn’t always convert her starts into big scores, Bhatia’s fluency at the top of the order helped Mumbai get off the blocks quickly. In fact, Bhatia’s 214 runs are the most in the WPL without a single half-century. She was a safe wicketkeeper and one of the few who contributed well with the bat.

Meg Lanning – Delhi Capitals

Lanning carried Capitals’ batting though the tournament, scoring runs in almost every game. She finished as the leading run-getter in the WPL and looked on course in the title-clash too. She continued to middle the ball in the final despite Capitals losing regular wickets – her back-to-back fours off Nat Sciver-Brunt in the third over were all class. Lanning and Shafali Verma’s opening combination was an enviable one in the WPL.

Nat Sciver-Brunt – Mumbai Indians

Cometh the big game, cometh the big name. Sciver-Brunt showed why she caused a bidding war in the auction. She occupied a crucial No. 3 spot in the batting order and owned the space, being as comfortable against spin as she was against seam. With the ball, she bowled the second-most deliveries – 114 – in the first six overs and had an economy rate of 5.63. Sciver-Brunt’s unbeaten 38-ball 72 in the Eliminator helped Mumbai romp into the final, where she anchored the chase and saw the team through, remaining unbeaten on 60.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Harmanpreet Kaur (capt) – Mumbai Indians

Harmanpreet longed for the winning feeling and ensured she got it by being consistent with the bat. She got the WPL off to a flying start with 65 off just 30 balls against Gujarat Giants, and finished the season as fourth-highest run-getter. Harmanpreet led Mumbai with aplomb, ringing in changes and using the resources at her disposal optimally. In the final, she came in to bat in a tricky situation and calmly defused it with a 72-run partnership for the third wicket with Sciver-Brunt. She only fell with the win almost assured.

Dayalan Hemalatha – Gujarat Giants

One of the few bright spots for Gujarat Giants, Hemalatha only enhanced her credentials as a finisher, something she has done quite frequently for Railways in the domestic circuit. Her strike rate of 157.29 for Giants was only second to Sophia Dunkley’s.

Shreyanka Patil – Royal Challengers Bangalore

Royal Challengers Bangalore had a disappointing campaign overall, but Patil’s outings with both bat and ball were attention-grabbing. She started the tournament with a crisp pull shot and then showed her wares with the ball, particularly at the death. Patil was unflinching in the face of mounting attacks and can be looked at as a long-term player for Royal Challengers.Shikha Pandey impressed across all three facets of the game•BCCI

Shikha Pandey – Delhi Capitals

Pandey had a terrific all-round WPL. She finished with the third-most wickets among all pacers in the WPL, threw herself around in the field, and her cameos with the bat often gave Capitals useful impetus from the lower order, not least in the final. India’s captain Harmanpreet also made note of Pandey’s efforts and said, “Shikha was bowling brilliantly throughout the tournament. And today [in the final] when the team needed her batting, she took time and then executed it brilliantly.”

Issy Wong – Mumbai Indians

Wong started the tournament with a first-ball six and also picked up the first hat-trick in the WPL. She used her pace and generated enough movement to get the better of the batters and also smartly used change-ups. Wong’s energy on the field often drew wild cheers from the crowd.

Parshavi Chopra – UP Warriorz

Chopra had a limited role but left a lasting impact. Her figures of 0 for 35 in her first WPL outing against Mumbai didn’t do justice to the way she bowled. Against Giants, she truly showed her worth, using the wrong’un to dismiss both Hemalatha and Ashleigh Gardner. Part of a team that pushed Indian players to the forefront, Chopra sure grabbed her chances.

Saika Ishaque – Mumbai Indians

Ishaque is perhaps the find of WPL 2023. A regular in the domestic circuit for Bengal, her disciplined left-arm spin by attacking the stumps got her rewards in the first half of the competition. After being a bit expensive in a couple of games in the second half, she held her own in both the Eliminator and the final, despite not having a truckload of wickets to show in them.

The problem, however, is he averages just 16.55 with the bat in the last four years and has not scored a half-century in 29 innings

Alex Malcolm09-Sep-2023Marcus Stoinis opening the bowling for Australia is raising some eyebrows.Australia’s new-ball bowling stocks in white-ball cricket are the envy of the world. When Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood play in the same team, one of them doesn’t get a new ball as Mitchell Starc has a mortgage on the other.They’ve left Spencer Johnson out of the World Cup squad although he could make his ODI debut in South Africa. Jason Behrendorff took five wickets against the eventual champions England in the 2019 ODI World Cup and is still a new-ball force in franchise and domestic cricket yet, he has hardly played for Australia since.Related

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Nathan Ellis has also missed the World Cup squad. He isn’t known as a new ball bowler, but he has proven his versatility in any pressure situation.Sean Abbott is in the squad and was in the team in the first ODI against South Africa in Bloemfontein, but even he didn’t get the new ball with Starc and Cummins absent.Instead, it was Stoinis brandishing the new Kookaburra, as he has done in three of his last four ODIs and two of his last three T20Is with encouraging success.In the T20I series, Stoinis took three wickets with the new ball in the powerplay at an economy rate of 6.75. In his last three ODI bowling performances, dating back to Australia’s last series in March, he has bowled 48 balls in the powerplay with the new ball, conceding just 26 runs and dismissing Ishan Kishan and Quinton de Kock.He was helped in Bloemfontein by a difficult surface, with both de Kock and Temba Bavuma struggling for rhythm.Marcus Stoinis has had an impact opening the bowling•Gallo Images/Getty ImagesBut Stoinis has turned himself into a new-ball weapon in the powerplay of late. His ability to swing the ball sets him apart from Australia’s specialist right-arm quicks. He hits the bat harder than the speed gun suggests with his extra bounce often causing problems. His control of length has been a feature of his bowling recently, and he can use cutters and scrambled seam deliveries when the swing disappears.The how is impressive. The why is intriguing.Australia’s selectors have been trialling various combinations for the ODI World Cup over the past 12 months. One of which involves playing eight batters in an XI, including four allrounders, as they did in the first ODI against India in Mumbai in March. Another involves playing two spinners, which they did in the third game in Chennai in that series and the first ODI against South Africa.Aside from his ability to swing the new ball and bowl well with just two men out, Stoinis opening the bowling allows Australia’s captain, whoever it is, more flexibility with his bowling resources. The move will allow the specialist quicks to bowl more overs in the middle, and potentially strike through that period, or leave more overs up their sleeve for the death. It also means when two spinners play, one of them might not be risked in the powerplay.So far it has worked out superbly with the ball. Except there is one glaring problem.For all those benefits, Stoinis’ ODI batting is a major concern. If he wasn’t bowling so well, likely, he would not be in the team given what has happened with Marnus Labuschagne.Since March 2019, Stoinis has averaged 16.55 and has gone 29 ODI innings without a half-century. For those wondering if that is just a byproduct of being a finisher like he is in T20 cricket, it is not the case in ODIs. He has batted at No. 5 or higher in 21 of those innings and even batted at No.3 three times.Marcus Stoinis averages just 16.55 with the bat since March 2019•AFP/Getty ImagesThe only difference between Stoinis and Labuschagne, who was left out of the World Cup squad after averaging just 22.30 in his last 14 ODIs before his supersub heroics in Bloemfontein, is Stoinis has maintained his strike rate above 90 throughout four lean years while Labuschagne struck at under 70 during his recent lean run and just above 83 over his career.Stoinis opening the bowling to make Australia’s batting almost bulletproof has also not exactly worked in the way it has been drawn up. The intention is to give Australia the depth to chase down anything or set enormous totals. But at the Wankhede Stadium in March, with Stoinis batting at No. 8, Australia were bowled out for 188, batting first, and lost handsomely.Although on difficult surfaces, the extra batting has paid dividends. In Chennai, with Stoinis at No. 7 and contributing 25, they mustered a winning score of 269. In Bloemfontein, albeit with the help of a concussion substitute, they chased down 223 after slumping to 113 for 7 with Stoinis managing just 17. Likewise in Cairns last year against New Zealand, Australia were 44 for 5, with Stoinis out for 5, and still they chased down 233 thanks to Cameron Green and Alex Carey sharing a 158-run stand for the sixth wicket with the insurance of Glenn Maxwell at No. 8.The other complicating factor to consider is the fitness of Australia’s allrounders. Stoinis’ bowling becomes even more important given Mitch Marsh’s ankle is still being protected. Marsh is yet to bowl a ball in four matches in South Africa, despite being captain, after a heavy and unexpected workload in the Ashes. Green’s body is always a concern, and his white-ball bowling remains a work in progress. His concussion will now limit his buildup to the World Cup. Maxwell’s leg remains a major concern and will need to be managed carefully.Stoinis himself has been managed carefully due to his previous side injuries that plagued his 2019 ODI World Cup, among other soft tissue problems. In India, he bowled in the first and third ODI but played as a batter only in the second given the short two-day turnaround. The same plan was rolled out for him in the T20I series against South Africa. There were four days leading into the first ODI which allowed him time to back up.The new ball experiment is working well for now but runs remain Stoinis’ major priority.

Which big name will Scorchers go for, who will the defending champions retain and how can Sixers replace Ecclestone?

Alex Malcolm01-Sep-2023

Adelaide Strikers

Current list: Jemma Barsby, Darcie Brown, Katie Mack, Tahlia McGrath, Annie O’Neil, Madeline Penna, Megan Schutt, Amanda Jade-WellingtonLast playing XI Katie Mack, Laura Wolvaardt, Tahlia McGrath (capt), Bridget Patterson, Madeline Penna, Tegan McPharlin (wk), Amanda-Jade Wellington, Jemma Barsby, Megan Schutt, Darcie BrownLast season’s overseas/retention options: Laura Wolvaardt, Deandra Dottin, Stafanie TaylorDraft picks: 8, 16, 17, and 32What might they want?Strikers have three retention picks in Laura Wolvaardt, Deandra Dottin and Stafanie Taylor, who returns to the WBBL after missing the last two editions. They may not need to use the retention as a lot of other drama will unfold before their first pick and those three players may not be high on the list of priorities for the other seven teams. Strikers’ title-winning attack is very settled and they already have an allrounder in their captain McGrath. Wolvaardt looms as their most likely target given her consistency at the top of the order for Strikers. Allrounders are in high demand so whether Dottin and Taylor would still be available by pick 16 if Strikers took Wolvaardt first remains to be seen. Strikers also need a wicketkeeper after Tegan McPharlin’s retirement last year. There are precious few options in the draft but India’s Richa Ghosh will be in demand and her power-hitting certainly fits in with Strikers’ batting blueprint.

Brisbane Heat

Current list: Nicola Hancock, Grace Harris, Laura Harris, Mikayla Hinkley, Ellie Johnston, Jess Jonassen, Charli Knott, Grace Parsons, Georgia Redmayne, Courtney Sippel, Georgia VollLast playing XI Georgia Redmayne (wk), Danni Wyatt, Grace Harris, Amelia Kerr, Georgia Voll, Laura Harris, Jess Jonassen (capt), Charli Knott, Nicola Hancock, Courtney Sippel, Jess KerrLast season’s overseas/retention options: Amelia Kerr, Danni Wyatt, Jess Kerr, Pooja Vastrakar, Nadine de KlerkDraft picks: 6, 14, 19, and 30What might they want?
Skipper Jess Jonassen has already declared that New Zealand star Amelia Kerr is the No.1 priority as a retention pick and Heat may need to use it given their first choice is not until pick 6, with plenty of teams above them in the market for a legspinning allrounder. Thereafter, Heat will be at the mercy of the market given their next pick will pick 14. They will likely need another top order batter given they have an established and powerful middle order already and there should be plenty still available including Danni Wyatt who made two half-centuries for Heat last season. Heat may also look to add another fast bowler and India’s Shikha Pandey might be an experienced and familiar option given she has spent some time training in Brisbane this winter.2:16

Jonassen: Brisbane Heat will want to retain Amelia Kerr in WBBL draft

Hobart Hurricanes

Current list: Nicola Carey, Maisy Gibson, Heather Graham, Ruth Johnston, Hayley Silver-Holmes, Amy Smith, Molly Strano, Rachel Trenaman, Elyse VillaniLast playing XI Lizelle Lee (wk), Elyse Villani (capt), Mignon du Preez, Heather Graham, Nicola Carey, Ruth Johnston, Rachel Trenaman, Hayley Jensen, Maisy Gibson, Amy Smith, Molly StranoLast season’s overseas/retention options: Lizelle Lee, Mignon du Preez, Hayley Jensen, Issy WongDraft picks: 5, 13, 20, 29What might they want?
Hurricanes are in an interesting position with two of their overseas players from last year in Lizelle Lee and Mignon du Preez both bypassing the draft and opting for the WBBL’s unique direct nomination path, where they can be signed by a club of their choice post-draft for a reduced salary. But Hurricanes have to take two overseas players in the draft and can only play three in the team meaning one of those two will likely not play for them. However, as far as priorities go, Hurricanes need a strike bowler and they are in luck with Issy Wong being available as a retention pick. Even though she didn’t play last season she was initially contracted and thus qualifies. That looms as a likely option unless a world-class allrounder somehow slips to No. 5 although Hurricanes do already have Nicola Carey and Heather Graham. If they take Wong, their second target could well be another top-order batter given Lee and du Preez were both key planks in the top three and neither are available in the draft.

Melbourne Renegades

Current list: Sarah Coyte, Jess Duffin, Ellie Falconer, Ella Hayward, Sophie Molineux, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia WarehamLast playing XI Hayley Matthews (capt), Chamari Athapaththu, Josie Dooley, Courtney Webb, Erica Kershaw, Carly Leeson, Georgia Prestwidge, Sarah Coyte, Rhiann O’Donnell, Ella Hayward, Shabnim IsmailLast season’s overseas/retention options: Hayley Matthews, Chamari Athapaththu, Shabhim Ismail, Harmanpreet Kaur, Eve JonesDraft picks: 2, 10, 23, and 26What might they want?
Renegades have some interesting choices to make. They can retain Harmanpreet Kaur even though she didn’t play last year. She was outstanding the previous season winning player of the tournament. She brings batting prowess and excellent part-time spin as well as important leadership for a young group. She seems a logical pick at No. 2. But they need another top order batting allrounder and potentially a pace bowler. There should be options available at pick 10 given the way the picks are set to fall. The question will be what the greater priority is given what will be available. Jess Duffin’s return to the squad adds batting depth meaning they could target a pace bowler. But Sophie Molineux’s fitness coming back from a knee injury remains an unknown so another spin-bowling batter might be an option, and there should be a few available.Will Renegades retain Harmanpreet Kaur who missed last season with injury?•Mark Brake/Getty Images

Melbourne Stars

Current list: Sophie Day, Tess Flintoff, Kim Garth, Meg Lanning, Sasha Moloney, Rhys McKenna, Sophie Reid, Annabel SutherlandLast playing XI Lauren Winfield-Hill, Sophie Reid, Alice Capsey, Annabel Sutherland, Bess Heath, Kim Garth, Nicole Faltum (wk), Sasha Moloney, Olivia Henry, Rhys McKenna, Sophie DayLast season’s overseas/retention options: Alice Capsey, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Jemimah Rodrigues, Bess HeathDraft picks: 4, 12, 21, and 28What might they want?
Stars need the best player they can possibly get and are in a very good position at pick 4 given what might unfold infront of them with Thunder, Renegades and Scorchers holding the first three picks. If Thunder opt for Marizanne Kapp and Scorchers opt to retain Sophie Devine instead, and Renegades take Harmanpreet Kaur then players such as Heather Knight, Chloe Tryon, Hayley Matthews, Shabnim Ismail and Chamari Athapaththu are all up for grabs among a host of others who aren’t retention options. If Meg Lanning is fit to play a full season, which is looking likely, then Ismail would be a great option to round out Stars’ attack. If Lanning is unavailable, Knight’s experience would be invaluable. Even if they committed to Ismail and missed out on Knight, there is still likely to be some excellent batters and allrounders available at pick 12 in the second round which would also add value to Stars’ side.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Perth Scorchers

Current list: Charis Bekker, Mathilda Carmichael, Peipa Cleary, Maddy Darke, Amy Edgar, Alana King, Lilly Mills, Beth Mooney, Taneale Pechel, Chloe Piparo, Georgia WyllieLast playing XI Sophie Devine (capt), Beth Mooney (wk), Maddy Green, Marizanne Kapp, Chloe Pipara, Amy Edgar, Mathilda Carmichael, Alana King, Piepa Cleary, Lilly Mills, Holly FerlingLast season’s overseas/retention options: Marizanne Kapp, Sophie Devine, Maddy GreenDraft picks: 3, 11, 22, and 27What might they want?
Scorchers are the team most disadvantaged by the move to an overseas draft in the WBBL as they will have to choose between Kapp and Devine as to which allrounder to retain. The decision will shape the whole draft. Either way they go, they will lose a high-quality pace bowling allrounder who bats in the top four and will need to replace her with their second pick at 11. Depending on how the first 10 picks shape someone like Dottin could be available. They could also opt for a batter and back their local bowlers. Athapaththu has played for Scorchers previously and might also be available if Thunder or Renegades don’t take her with their second picks. There is also a scenario where Knight and Taylor are still available at that pick.

Sydney Sixers

Current list: Jade Allen, Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns, Lauren Cheatle, Ashleigh Gardner, Emma Hughes, Ellyse PerryLast playing XI Suzie Bates, Alyssa Healy (wk), Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, Erin Burns, Nicole Bolton, Sophie Ecclestone, Maitlin Brown, Kate Peterson, Angelina Genford, Lauren CheatleLast season’s overseas: Sophie Ecclestone, Suzie BatesDraft picks: 7, 15, 18, and 31What might they want?
Sixers were certain to take Sophie Ecclestone as a retention pick before her shoulder injury. They now have a clean slate with Suzie Bates unavailable for the draft although she may still play for the Sixers as a directly contracted player post draft. That means the Sixers need to find the best players they can with pick 7 and 15. They definitely need a spinner and England legspinner Sarah Glenn could be an excellent option coming off a very good Hundred tournament. Offspinner Deepti Sharma could also be available as a direct replacement for Nicole Bolton who has retired but the Sixers would prefer a legspinner or left-arm orthodox to complement Gardner and Burns. Sune Luus is not a platinum pick but could be a more than handy pick up later in the draft. Another option is to find a seam-bowling allrounder to deepen the batting and Nadine de Klerk is another non-platinum player who could be a good fit after an excellent English summer for Oval Invincibles and Blaze.

Sydney Thunder

Current list: Hannah Darlington, Sammy-Jo Johnson, Anika Learoyd, Phoebe Litchfield, Olivia Porter, Lauren SmithLast playing XI Tammy Beaumont, Phoebe Litchfield, Amy Jones (wk), Rachael Haynes (capt), Chloe Tryon, Olivia Porter, Sammy-Jo Johnson, Hannah Darlington, Lauren Smith, Belinda Vakarewa, Samantha BatesLast season’s overseas/retention options: Amy Jones, Tammy Beaumont, Chloe Tryon, Lea Tahuhu, Heather KnightDraft picks: 1, 9, 24, and 25What might they want?
Scorchers will shape the draft with their retention pick but Thunder are the ones who can set it in motion. They have a lot of great players available and they definitely need high quality players and experience, particularly batters. They can prise one of Kapp or Devine from Perth with that No. 1 pick. Most around the league believe Kapp would be first-choice for any club. But if Scorchers retain Kapp then Thunder have a decision to make. Do they take Devine or do they look elsewhere? They also have pick No.9 which is likely to be a very good player and there is a chance Knight, a former Thunder player, might be available then too. Tammy Beaumont has nominated for a direct route outside the draft and may get to Thunder again so they may look to add another bowler if they can. If Ismail slips through then she might be another they would like to have back after her starring role in their last title in 2020. Amy Jones has also bypassed the draft to be directly contracted by a club and was Thunder’s keeper last season. Thunder will need another keeper if they opt to sign Beaumont.