Alisha Bates is the final signing for Sydney Sixers for WBBL05

Young teenager Alisha Bates has been signed up by Sydney Sixers for their final spot for the fifth edition of Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL). She is just 17 years old and becomes the fifth teenager in the Sixers’ squad after Maddy Darke and Emma Hughes (both 18), Stella Campbell (17) and Hayley Silver-Holmes (16).



Bates, who bowls slow left arm spin and bats left-handed, too, will combine her studies with Sixers commitments and is thrilled to play alongside the likes of Ellyse Perry and Alyssa Healy.



“When I heard that I’d be playing with the Sixers I was a bit speechless to be honest. It didn’t really sink in until I’d actually signed everything,” Bates said.



 

✍️ SIGNING NEWS! We've rounded out our squad for @WBBL|05 with the signing of teenage spinner Alisha Bates!

Full details here > https://t.co/Ch7PFnBk2x#smashemsixers #WBBL05 pic.twitter.com/mYLBxBOCu7



— Sydney Sixers WBBL (@SixersWBBL) October 8, 2019

 



“I’m really looking forward to training with the top players and learning how to be a better cricketer. I’m not putting too much pressure on myself. I just want to become a better cricketer all round.”



Ben Sawyers, Sixers head coach, is also excited about the latest signing.



“We obviously have a number of big named international players but we now have five teenagers and it is just as important for us to develop those players as it is to continue to grow with our more experienced campaigners,” he said.



“Alisha is a talented young player and I have no doubt she will learn a lot from just being part of our set up. We have some great spinners at the Sixers and that provides Alisha with another learning opportunity.”