Laura Wolvaardt, the South African captain, was pre-signed before the WBBL-11 draft by the Adelaide Strikers. She looked in good touch in the recent series against the West Indies, scoring 75 runs in the final ODI. Having previously played for the Heat and the Strikers, she has amassed 1825 runs with a strike rate of almost 110. During her time with the Strikers, she became a fan favourite, playing a pivotal role in their back-to-back title victories. And now, she will aim to help the team secure a third championship.
The most important addition to the Strikers’ squad this season is Sophie Ecclestone. The Strikers had the second pick at the draft, and to their favour, Ecclestone was overlooked by her previous club, the Sixers. With the left-arm spinner joining the club, her inclusion will solve the bowling issue they faced in the previous season. She will lead the spin department, with their two-legged spinners supporting her. Additionally, her lower-order batting adds significant power.
Though absent from international cricket due to injury, she was gaining her form, claiming 11 wickets across just four innings, with an impressive economy rate of 3.66 in the Women’s T20 County Cup 2025. In her previous WBBL outings, Ecclestone has claimed 31 wickets at an economy rate under 7. With the bat, she has a strike rate of 142.24 while batting in the lower-middle order.
To fill the void left by Katie Mack’s departure to the Scorchers, and with Indian opener Smriti Mandhana not nominating for this season’s draft, the Strikers made a strategic move in the 4th round, signing England opener Tammy Beaumont. She has scored 1553 in her WBBL career, hitting 6 half-centuries. In the ODI series against the West Indies, she scored two centuries and will now look to continue her strong form as she partners Laura Wolvaardt at the top of the order.
WBBL-2025 Draft selections for Adelaide Strikers
Sophie Ecclestone (England), Tammy Beaumont (England), Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa, pre-signing)
