Scorchers skipper Devine to stay in orange for WBBL|08

The Perth Scorchers’ Weber WBBL title defence has received a huge boost with captain Sophie Devine recommitting to the club.  

The New Zealand international captained the Scorchers to their maiden title in November as they defeated the Adelaide Strikers by 12 runs in front of more than 15,000 people in Perth.  

After playing the first five WBBL seasons with the Strikers, Devine made the switch to Perth ahead of WBBL|06, earning player-of-the-tournament honours in her first summer with the club. 

And the 32-year-old was instrumental in the Scorchers’ success, hitting 442 runs in the campaign and taking 10 wickets.  

The White Ferns superstar said the decision to re-sign for another season was a simple one.  

“It was a pretty easy choice for me to come back to the mighty orange, the last two years have been pretty special,” Devine said in a statement.

“Winning the title last year for the first time in the club’s history is certainly motivation for me to grow something special with this group.” 

Since Devine’s move west, only one player in the entire competition has scored more runs than her 902; teammate Beth Mooney with 1,098.  

Devine is the competition’s third-highest all-time run maker with 3,076 and is easily the most prolific six-hitter with 120, a whopping 52 ahead of the second-placed Ashleigh Gardner (68).  

Following the contracting embargo lifting two weeks ago, teams are now allowed to sign uncontracted players for the upcoming season.  

Currently the Scorchers have signed seven players (out of the 15 permitted) for WBBL|08, including Australian internationals Mooney and Alana King.  

“We’ve got such a talented group which makes for a really exciting balance and I think getting that right is crucial to success,” Devine said. 

“You can’t just rely on one or two people, it takes a full squad and that’s what we showed last year.” 

Devine and fellow Kiwi Amelia Kerr (Brisbane Heat) are the only confirmed internationals in the competition at this stage.  

WBBL|08 squads so far

Adelaide Strikers: Darcie Brown, Tahlia McGrath, Bridget Patterson, Maddie Penna, Megan Schutt, Amanda-Jade Wellington

Brisbane Heat: Nicola Hancock, Ellie Johnston, Jess Jonassen, Amelia Kerr, Charli Knott, Georgia Redmayne Courtney Sippell, Georgia Voll

Hobart Hurricanes: Nicola Carey, Maisy Gibson, Amy Smith, Molly Strano, Rachel Trenaman

Melbourne Renegades: Ellen Falconer, Georgia Wareham, Courtney Webb

Melbourne Stars: Nicole Faltum, Meg Lanning, Annabel Sutherland

Perth Scorchers: Mathilda Carmichael, Piepa Cleary, Sophie Devine, Alana King, Lilly Mills, Beth Mooney, Chloe Piparo

Sydney Sixers: Jade Allen, Nicole Bolton, Maitlan Brown, Stella Campbell, Lauren Cheatle, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy

Sydney Thunder: Samantha Bates, Phoebe Litchfeld, Olivia Porter, Tahlia Wilson