Sophie Devine named WBBL05 Player of the Tournament

On the back of some incredible performances, Sophie Devine has been named Player of the Tournament for the fifth season of the Women’s Big Bash League. The allrounder from Adelaide Strikers has had a stellar season with the bat and ball, so far, smashing 699 runs at an average of 77.66, while also claiming 16 wickets.

Devine has almost single handedly led Strikers into the knockouts, clobbering as many as  eight half-centuries— five of which came on the trot— in 14 league games. Her tally of 28 sixes so far is also well ahead of the rest of the pack— Lizelle Lee a distant second with 19. Devine is within touching distance of Ellyse Perry’s record tally of 777 runs in a single season, and with potentially two matches to go, looks almost certain to surpass that mark.

The right-hander grabbed the most number of votes, totaling 48 across 14 games. She finished 13 votes clear of Beth Mooney, having polled votes in 12 out of the 14 matches she played.

Votes were awarded by the two standing umpires on a 3-2-1 basis at the end of each match, meaning a player can receive up to six votes per match.

Devine’s performances also saw her earn a place at the top of the order in the team of the tournament that will be led by Melbourne Renegades skipper Jess Duffin. The Kiwi star will open the batting alongside Beth Mooney who is sitting just behind her in the run-scoring charts with 672 runs under her belt.

Three other openers have made the cut— Danielle Wyatt, Meg Lanning and Perry, the others— and will slot in at nos. 3, 4 and 5 respectively. 

As per WBBL playing conditions, only three overseas players have been chosen in the team with Marizanne Kapp, the fast bowler from Sydney Sixers, joining Devine and Wyatt.

The season’s top three wicket-takers, Belinda Vakarewa, Molly Strano (both with 20 wickets each) and Jess Jonassen (19 wickets) have been chosen as part of a well-balanced attack with Megan Schutt— who boasts of a tournament economy rate of only 5.67 despite bowling in the power play and at the death— as its leader.

No player from Sydney Thunder or Melbourne Stars has been selected in the team.

Alistair Dobson (head of Big Bash Leagues), Matthew Mott (head coach of Australia), Belinda Clark (former Australia captain), Lisa Sthalekar, Mel Jones (both former players-turned-broadcasters), Alister Nicholson (broadcaster) and Laura Jolly (journalist) comprised the panel that selected the team.

Team of WBBL05: Beth Mooney (Brisbane Heat), Sophie Devine (Adelaide Strikers), Danielle Wyatt (Melbourne Renegades), Meg Lanning (Perth Scorchers), Ellyse Perry (Sydney Sixers), Jess Duffin (captain, Melbourne Renegades), Jess Jonassen (Brisbane Heat), Marizanne Kapp (Sydney Sixers), Molly Strano (Melbourne Renegades), Megan Schutt (Adelaide Strikers), Belinda Vakarewa (Hobart Hurricanes)

Coach: Ashley Noffke (Brisbane Heat)