The WBBL and BBL drafts unfolded on Sunday, with teams filling their overseas slots for the upcoming season. While many familiar names were selected, there were also a few surprises and notable strategies. Here are some key takeaways.
Securing Smriti Mandhana is always a coup, but doing so at nearly half the price of the top category—silver at AU$65,000 compared to platinum at up to AU$110,000—is a masterstroke by the defending champions, Adelaide Strikers. The Strikers were the last team to confirm their pre-signing, and the connection between Mandhana and Strikers' coach Luke Williams, who also coaches her at Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the WPL, seems to have paid off significantly. Although Mandhana will miss some early matches due to an ODI series against New Zealand, she could have easily commanded a higher price.
This savvy move allowed the Strikers to re-sign Laura Wolvaardt in the platinum category after Hobart Hurricanes made an early bid. The prospect of Mandhana and Wolvaardt opening together mid-season is exciting. Even after Wolvaardt departs for international duty, Mandhana will still be available. To further bolster their squad, the Strikers added Ireland's Orla Prendergast to their roster.
Meanwhile, the influence of connections formed in the WPL was evident, with six Indian players signed—a record for the WBBL. However, captain Harmanpreet Kaur was notably absent. "It was surprising...it's a big shock she's not part of the tournament," said Sydney Sixers general manager Rachael Haynes to AAP. "It seems teams are really focusing on specific skill sets, becoming more selective, and once they've addressed those needs, they're moving on to their next priority."