The 37-year-old Suzie Bates has joined Hobart Hurricanes as an overseas replacement player for the Women’s Big Bash League 2024.
Suzie Bates has previously played for Adelaide Strikers, Sydney Sixers and Perth Scorchers, but was not picked by any team in the WBBL draft. However, after England players were known to be unavailable for the latter stages of the tournament due to the South Africa tour, the Hurricanes signed Bates.
Wyatt Hodge was taken fourth in the WBBL Draft this season after the Hurricanes forced a trio of retention picks, will be available for the first seven games before being replaced by Bates for the final three games and any finals.
Bates has been part of the New Zealand squad which suffered a 60-run defeat in the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 match against Australia.
The Hurricanes’ General manager of his performance Salliann Beams, declared her as the Perfect replacement player.
Kiwi Superstar Suzie Bates is set to join the Hurricanes for the back end of WBBL|10!
Buy your Membership and Tickets before WBBL|10 to see the real reason Hurricanes are named after women. Visit https://t.co/QXG6QiaEBJ for more. pic.twitter.com/I5A84ltyXX
— Hobart Hurricanes (@HurricanesBBL) October 9, 2024
“Bringing Suzie into our WBBL squad just made sense as soon as we saw she was not selected in the draft we thought she would be the perfect replacement for Danni once we knew her availability,” Beams said.
“She will give us an experienced operator when we lose someone of Danni’s ability in our line-up.”
Bates has played 167 T20Is, averaging 29.48 with a strike rate of 108.78 following her 20 against the Aussies in Sharjah last night.
Lizelle Lee will be a constant at the top of the order, the Hurricanes are also facing the prospect of losing South Africa all-rounder Chloe Tryon for the closing stages of the tournament due to international commitments.
Suzie Bates will join the Hurricanes for the last three games of the tournament, and could potentially stay if the team qualifies for the finals.
Bates will join the Hurricanes’ roaster which already includes overseas talent like Chloe Tryon and Lizelle Lee.
Hobart Hurricanes Squad for WBBL|10: Suzie Bates (New Zealand), Nicola Carey, Heather Graham, Ruth Johnston, Lizelle Lee (South Africa), Hayley Silver-Holmes, Tabatha Saville, Amy Smith, Lauren Smith, Molly Strano, Rachel Trenaman, Chloe Tryon (South Africa), Elyse Villani, Callie Wilson, Danni Wyatt-Hodge (England)
Also Check: WBBL 2024 Squad, Teams Full List – Women’s Big Bash League
