Former South African opener Lizelle Lee has signed a contract extension with Hobart Hurricanes ahead of the WBBL draft. Lee, who joined the Hurricanes in 2022, will continue her association with the club until at least the end of WBBL|11.
As per the WBBL 2024 schedule, Hobart Hurricanes will play their first match of the tournament against Sydney Thunder Women on October 28 in Bellerive Oval, Hobart.
Lee has been signed under the league’s new multi-year, pre-draft contract provision for overseas players.
The introduction of the multi-year provision enables each club to sign one overseas player for up to three years outside of the WBBL draft, securing high-profile talent for clubs on a longer-term basis, a report in CA says.
“I feel like the team made some strong progress last season, and I am looking forward to playing my role and natural game as we look to bring Tasmania and the Hurricanes their first WBBL trophy,” Lee said in a statement from Hobart.
Lee was the club’s leading run scorer in WBBL|09, scoring 409 runs at an impressive strike rate of 146.07.
“With her and Junior [Elyse Villani] at the top of our order, I think we have arguably the most experienced and talented opening pairing in the WBBL.
She [Lee] provided us with great versatility with our overseas pre-signing, and considering we had the number one pick in the WBBL draft it made sense for us to pre-sign someone who we know can play a role for us.
She can change the game with the bat and in the field, having done so time and time again in international cricket for South Africa and in the WBBL”, said Cricket Tasmania’s general manager Salliann Beams.
Hurricanes squad for WBBL|10 (so far): Nicola Carey, Heather Graham, Ruth Johnston, Hayley Silver-Holmes, Amy Smith, Lauren Smith, Molly Strano, Rachel Trenaman, Elyse Villani
Cricket Australia have also released the complete WBBL 2024 tickets booking link for the fans to book the tickets in advance.
CHECK: WBBL 2024 Squad, Teams Full List – Women’s Big Bash League
