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Sixers lock in international trio

Sydney Sixers will welcome back three familiar faces as their international signings for WBBL|03

The Sydney Sixers will call on some familiar faces as their international signings for WBBL|03, with South Africa internationals Dane Van Niekerk and Marizanne Kapp, and New Zealand’s Sara McGlashan all set to pull on the magenta again.

All three were part of the Sixers’ championship side last year, with Kapp and McGlashan having been at the Rebel WBBL club since its formation.

Kapp slaps around the Hurricanes bowlers

Allrounder Van Niekerk, who made the trip north to the Harbour City from the Melbourne Renegades last summer, will again be a valuable leader around the club, bringing her experience as Proteas captain and skill as a leg spinner.

Fellow allrounder Kapp had a solid WBBL|02 campaign, scoring 136 runs at 34 and claiming 13 wickets, while batter-wicketkeeper McGlashan racked up 343 runs at 24.50 and has been reliable in the field, as well as providing a handy back-up to Sixers wicketkeeping star Alyssa Healy.

Sixers head coach Ben Sawyer was excited about the re-signing of the three key players ahead of WBBL|03.

Image Id: CF894AC2080A4329B8F06EFBDBB9A6B4 Image Caption: Dane Van Niekerk gets a shot away for Sydney Sixers // Getty

“Marizanne, Dane and Sara are extremely talented players, but more importantly, they are fantastic in and around our group and add so much to our team,” he said.

“Marizanne continued to show why she is considered one of the best bowlers in the world today with her performances at the World Cup earlier in the year. Her attacking style makes her such a difficult prospect for opposition batters.

“Couple this with her hard hitting in the middle order, and her outstanding arm in the field, and you have an extremely exciting cricketer that we are lucky to have in our line-up.

“Along with Marizanne, Dane also had an outstanding World Cup, ending the tournament as the leading wicket-taker. Dane's leg-spin was one of our attacking weapons last season, and I see this year being no different.

“I am also looking forward to seeing Dane with bat in hand this year, because I truly believe that she can be one of the competition’s real improvers this season.

Image Id: E95AE71AC1BF4F2CBCA38AA02FC5A646 Image Caption: Sara McGlashan in fine form for the Sydney Sixers in WBBL|02 // Getty

“Sara McGlashan, like Marizanne, has been one of our internationals from the outset of the WBBL and we are extremely pleased that she will be joining us again. Macca is a seasoned professional and brings great experience and a level of calmness to our team, along with her hard-hitting middle-order batting and safe hands in the field.”

With the three latest signings, the Sixers have filled 14 of their 15 squad spots for the upcoming summer, with eight days remaining before the WBBL contracting period closes.

The Sixers start their campaign on Saturday, December 9 against Melbourne Stars before taking on crosstown rival Sydney Thunder on Sunday, December 10 in a bumper opening weekend of WBBL at North Sydney Oval.

Sixers squad: Ellyse Perry (C), Sarah Aley, Erin Burns, Lauren Cheatle, Ash Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jodie Hicks, Marizanne Kapp, Carly Leeson, Emily Leys, Sara McGlashan, Ange Reakes, Lauren Smith, Dane Van Niekerk.