Perth Scorchers have pulled off a significant move in signing a leading batter ahead of Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) 11, bringing in experienced top-order-batter Katie Mack from Adelaide Strikers on a two-year deal.
One of Australia’s top-performing uncapped batters, Katie Mack has made the switch to Perth Scorchers after six strong seasons with Adelaide Strikers. A consistent force at the top of the order, she tallied 1896 runs in 87 appearances in the Strikers’ Blue. Mack brings in a wealth of experience accumulating 2664 runs in total and the highest of 89*.
After six consistent seasons with the Strikers, the 31-year-old now joins the Scorchers, who are desperate to revamp their batting order, especially after back-to-back seasons missing the finals and struggling for stability beyond boasting Australia star Beth Mooney and New Zealand’s Sophie Devine.
Last season, lack of batting support for Beth Mooney was cited as a significant factor as the Scorchers missed the finals for the second consecutive season. While the wicketkeeper-batter was the competition’s third highest run scorer with 386 at 38.6, the Scorchers’ next highest contributor was Devine, with 213 at 23.6.
Last season, Mooney led with 386 runs and the Scorchers’ next highest contributor was Devine, with 213, but the middle and lower order lacked impact, highlighted by underwhelming returns from overseas signings – Amy Jones (87 runs) and Hemalatha Dayalan (99), and mid-season signing Brooke Halliday went on to outperform the two. Their most productive local player after Mooney was pinch hitter Alana King with 105 runs.
Scorchers General Manager of High Performance, Kade Harvey, expressed, “We saw an opportunity to strengthen our batting, and Katie fits the bill perfectly. She has proven herself to be among the more consistent batters in the WBBL, and we believe the WACA Ground will suit her playing style. Katie is also a quality person and leader who has a decade’s worth of WBBL experience to lean on, which should benefit the rest of the squad.”
Mack will restart fresh in this domestic season, having already shifted from ACT Meteors to take up a state contract with her native New South Wales. Mack looks forward to donning the Orange, after playing brief country cricket for Lancashire.
“I’m really excited to be joining the Perth Scorchers for the upcoming WBBL season. I’m really looking forward to linking up with my new teammates, coaches and support staff soon and getting to work,” she said.
With the likes of Mooney, Devine, Alana King, and now Mack, the Scorchers’ core is shaping up strongly ahead of the WBBL Draft, where they hold pick No. 4. Perth currently consists of the rights to retain Jones, who has hit career-best form, hitting back-to-back ODI centuries. With Hemalatha not being nominated for this season’s draft, they will have at least one new overseas player on their books.
Meanwhile, the Strikers will need to reconfigure their top-order after not only losing Mack but also missing out on India’s Smriti Mandhana, who has opted out of the upcoming draft. However, with South African star Laura Wolvaardt secured on a two-year deal and holding pick No. 2 in the draft, the reigning champions still have the tools to rebuild.
Perth Scorchers WBBL|11 list (so far):
Chloe Ainsworth, Sophie Devine, Amy Edgar, Mikayla Hinkley, Ebony Hoskin, Alana King, Katie Mack, Beth Mooney
Off contract: Stella Campbell, Piepa Cleary, Maddy Darke, Carly Leeson, Lilly Mills, Chloe Piparo
