Adelaide Strikers (WBBL)

This article is about the women's team. For the men's team, see Adelaide Strikers.

The Adelaide Strikers (WBBL) are an Australian women's Twenty20 cricket team based in North Adelaide, South Australia.^[a] They compete in the Women's Big Bash League, and won their first championship in WBBL|08.

Adelaide Strikers (WBBL)

League	Women's Big Bash League
Personnel
Captain	Tahlia McGrath
Coach	Luke Williams
Team information
City	Adelaide
Colours	Blue
Home ground	Karen Rolton Oval
Secondary home ground(s)	Adelaide Oval
History
Twenty20 debut	12 December 2015 (2015-12-12)
WBBL wins	2 (WBBL08) ,(WBBL09)
Official website	Adelaide Strikers
Current season

History

Formation

One of eight founding WBBL teams, the Adelaide Strikers are aligned with the men's team of the same name.^[2] At the official WBBL launch on 10 July 2015, Megan Schutt was unveiled as the team's first-ever player signing.^[3] Andrea McCauley was appointed as the Strikers' inaugural coach, while Lauren Ebsary became the team's inaugural captain.^[4][5]

The Strikers played their first match on 12 December at Aurora Stadium against the Hobart Hurricanes, losing by two runs.^[6] Their first win came on 20 December at Allan Border Field against the Sydney Thunder, chasing down a target of 149 runs with six wickets in hand and six balls to spare.^[7]

Rivalries

Perth Scorchers

In the league's early years, the Strikers and the Perth Scorchers experienced several instances of senior members switching allegiances:

• Inaugural Strikers captain Lauren Ebsary joined the Scorchers after just one season.^[8][9]
• Former Scorchers captain Suzie Bates moved to the Strikers ahead of WBBL|03 and became the first player to lead two WBBL clubs.^[10][11]
• After scoring the most runs for Perth throughout WBBL|01, Charlotte Edwards transferred to Adelaide in her final year of cricket.^[12] The following season, Edwards assumed an assistant coaching role for the Strikers.^[13]
• Ahead of WBBL|06, former Adelaide all-rounder Shelley Nitschke was appointed to the position of head coach for the Scorchers.^[14][15]

Noteworthy matches between the two teams include:

• 13 January 2018, Traeger Park: In a match reduced to 16 overs per side due to a rain delay, the Scorchers could only muster a first innings score of 9/87. In the run chase, Suzie Bates played a lone hand of 49 not out to help the Strikers win by six wickets with one ball to spare.
• 9 November 2019, Karen Rolton Oval: An innings of 80 runs from 58 deliveries by Amy Jones helped Perth post a total of 3/173. Despite a slow start to the run chase, Adelaide finished strongly with Bridget Patterson scoring 60 off 32 balls. However, Heather Graham conceded just a single off the final ball to give the Scorchers a two-run win.
• 7 December 2019, Allan Border Field: In the WBBL|05 semi-finals, the Strikers comfortably reached the required total of 127 with eight wickets in hand and eleven balls remaining to eliminate the Scorchers from the tournament.

Brisbane Heat

Noteworthy matches between the Strikers and the Brisbane Heat include:

• 21 January 2017, The Gabba: Chasing a modest total of 6/127, the Strikers required three runs for victory with two balls remaining. Brisbane medium-pacer Deandra Dottin then bowled Tegan McPharlin before conceding two runs off the final delivery to force a tie. In the resulting super over, Dottin–who had earlier scored 51 runs with the bat–capped off a dominant all-round performance by taking two wickets and limiting Adelaide to just four runs. Beth Mooney scored the winning runs to secure the Heat's first finals appearance.^[16][17][18]
• 8 December 2019, Allan Border Field: In the WBBL|05 final, the Heat gained early ascendancy through quick bowler Georgia Prestwidge, who dismissed Player of the Tournament Sophie Devine for just five. A "superb"^[19] knock of 55 runs from 33 balls by Amanda-Jade Wellington helped the Strikers to recover to a competitive score of 7/161. The match swung heavily toward Brisbane's favour in the fifth over of the run chase when Sammy-Jo Johnson hit four sixes against the bowling of Devine, though Johnson would be out caught-and-bowled on the last ball of the over. When Devine returned to bowl the eleventh over of the innings, Heat batter Jess Jonassen was dropped by Wellington at extra cover. Jonassen then scored a boundary from each of the next three deliveries she faced, taking Brisbane's required scoring rate down to less than a run a ball.^[20] The Heat went on to win with six wickets in hand and eleven balls remaining, claiming their second consecutive championship. For her contribution of 56 not out, Beth Mooney was named Player of the Final.^[21]

Captaincy records

See also: § Season summaries

There have been five captains in the Strikers' history, including matches featuring an acting captain.

Captain	Span	M	Won	Lost	Tied	NR	W–L%
Lauren Ebsary	2015–2016	14	6[b]	8	0	0	42.86
Tegan McPharlin	2016–2017	12	3	9[c]	0	0	25.00
Suzie Bates	2017–2020	46	24[d]	21	0	1	53.33
Megan Schutt	2020–2022	15	8	6	0	1	57.14
Tahlia McGrath	2021–present	31	17	12[c]	0	2	58.62

Source:^[22]

Season summaries

Chart of yearly table positions for Adelaide Strikers in WBBL

Season	W–L	Pos.	Finals	Coach	Captain	Most Runs	Most Wickets	Most Valuable Player	Refs
2015–16	6–8	7th	DNQ	Andrea McCauley	Lauren Ebsary	Sarah Taylor – 393	Sarah Coyte – 14	Sarah Taylor	[23][24][25]
2016–17	3–9	8th	DNQ	Andrea McCauley	Tegan McPharlin	Sophie Devine – 270	Megan Schutt – 13	Megan Schutt	[26][27][28]
2017–18	8–6	4th	SF	Andrea McCauley	Suzie Bates	Suzie Bates – 434	Devine, Wellington – 17	Sophie Devine	[29][30][31]
2018–19	5–8	6th	DNQ	Andrea McCauley	Suzie Bates	Sophie Devine – 556	Sophie Devine – 14	Sophie Devine	[32][33][34]
2019–20	10–4	2nd	RU	Luke Williams	Suzie Bates	Sophie Devine – 769*	Coyte, Devine – 19	Sophie Devine*	[35][36][37]
2020–21	6–7	6th	DNQ	Luke Williams	Suzie Bates[e]	Laura Wolvaardt – 347	Sarah Coyte – 18	Sarah Coyte	[38][39][40]
2021–22	7–6	4th	RU	Luke Williams	Tahlia McGrath	Katie Mack – 513	Amanda-Jade Wellington – 23*	Katie Mack	[41][42][43]
2022–23	8–5	2nd	C	Luke Williams	Tahlia McGrath[f]	Laura Wolvaardt – 403	Megan Schutt – 27*	Megan Schutt	[44][45][46]
2023–24	11–3	1st	C	Luke Williams	Tahlia McGrath[f]	Katie Mack – 452	Amanda-Jade Wellington – 23*	Megan Schutt	[44][45][46]

Legend

DNQ	Did not qualify	SF	Semi-finalists	*	Led the league
EF	Lost the Eliminator	RU	Runners-up	^	League record
CF	Lost the Challenger	C	Champions

Home grounds

Venue	Games hosted by season
	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	Total
Adelaide Oval	2	3	4	2	–	N/A[g]	4	–	15
Adelaide Oval No. 2	3	–	–	–	–		–	–	3
Albrecht Oval	–	–	–	2	–		–	–	2
Centennial Park Oval	–	–	–	–	1		–	1	2
Glenelg Oval	–	2	4	–	–		–	–	6
Karen Rolton Oval	–	–	–	3	4		4	5	16
Traeger Park	–	–	2	–	–		–	–	2

Current squad

As of 8 September 2024^[48]

• Players with international caps are listed in bold.

No.	Name	Nat.	Birth date	Batting style	Bowling style	Notes
Batters
2	Katie Mack		(1993-09-14) 14 September 1993 (age 31)	Right-handed	Right-arm leg break
11	Madeline Penna		(2000-08-30) 30 August 2000 (age 24)	Right-handed	Right-arm leg break
14	Laura Wolvaardt		(1999-04-26) 26 April 1999 (age 25)	Right-handed	–
–	Smriti Mandhana		(1996-07-18) 18 July 1996 (age 28)	Left-handed	Right-arm medium
All-rounders
4	Jemma Barsby		(1995-10-04) 4 October 1995 (age 29)	Left-handed	Right-arm off break, Slow left-arm orthodox
9	Tahlia McGrath		(1995-11-10) 10 November 1995 (age 29)	Right-handed	Right-arm medium	Captain
35	Eleanor Larosa		(2005-11-26) 26 November 2005 (age 18)	Left-handed	Left-arm medium
84	Orla Prendergast		(2002-06-01) 1 June 2002 (age 22)	Right-handed	Right-arm medium
Wicket-keeper
21	Bridget Patterson		(1994-04-12) 12 April 1994 (age 30)	Right-handed	–
77	Ellie Johnston		(2003-01-29) 29 January 2003 (age 21)	Right-handed	Right-arm leg break
Bowlers
7	Maggie Clark		(2007-03-15) 15 March 2007 (age 17)	Left-handed	Right-arm fast-medium
10	Amanda-Jade Wellington		(1997-05-29) 29 May 1997 (age 27)	Right-handed	Right-arm leg break
20	Darcie Brown		(2003-03-07) 7 March 2003 (age 21)	Right-handed	Right-arm fast
27	Megan Schutt		(1993-01-15) 15 January 1993 (age 31)	Right-handed	Right-arm fast-medium
61	Anesu Mushangwe		(1996-02-25) 25 February 1996 (age 28)	Right-handed	Right-arm leg break

Players

Australian representatives

The following is a list of cricketers who have played for the Strikers after making their debut in the national women's team (the period they spent as both a Strikers squad member and an Australian-capped player is in brackets):

• Darcie Brown (WBBL|07–present)
• Sarah Coyte (WBBL|01–02, 04–07)
• Lauren Ebsary (WBBL|01)
• Sarah Elliott (WBBL|02)
• Tahlia McGrath (WBBL|02–present)
• Shelley Nitschke (WBBL|01–02)
• Megan Schutt (WBBL|01–present)
• Amanda-Jade Wellington (WBBL|02–present)

Overseas marquees

• Georgia Adams (WBBL|09)
• Suzie Bates (WBBL|03–06)
• Tammy Beaumont (WBBL|02–03)
• Sophie Devine (WBBL|01–05)
• Deandra Dottin (WBBL|08)
• Charlotte Edwards (WBBL|02)
• Danielle Gibson (WBBL|09)
• Danielle Hazell (WBBL|04)
• Katie Perkins (WBBL|06)
• Sarah Taylor (WBBL|01)
• Stafanie Taylor (WBBL|05–06)
• Dane van Niekerk (WBBL|07)
• Lauren Winfield (WBBL|05)
• Laura Wolvaardt (WBBL|06–present)

Associate rookies

• Miranda Veringmeier (WBBL|01)^[49]
• Ravina Oa (WBBL|02)^[50]
• Kathryn Bryce (WBBL|03)

Statistics and awards

Statistics and awards updated through to the end of WBBL|08

Team stats

• Champions: 1 – WBBL|08
• Runners-up: 2 – WBBL|05, WBBL|07
• Minor premiers: 0
• Win–loss record:

Opposition	M	Won	Lost	Tied	NR	W–L%
Brisbane Heat	19	8	11[c]	0	0	42.11
Hobart Hurricanes	15	11[b]	3	0	1	78.57
Melbourne Renegades	17	8[b]	8	0	1	50.00
Melbourne Stars	16	7	9	0	0	43.75
Perth Scorchers	18	10	7[c]	0	1	58.82
Sydney Sixers	18	6	12	0	0	33.33
Sydney Thunder	15	8[h]	6	0	1	57.14
Total	118	58[i]	56[j]	0	4	50.88

• Highest score in an innings: 5/189 (20 overs) vs Hobart Hurricanes, 8 January 2019
• Highest successful chase:
  • 2/155 (14.5 overs) vs Hobart Hurricanes, 18 November 2022
  • 4/156 (19.4 overs) vs Brisbane Heat, 24 November 2022
• Lowest successful defence: 7/107 (20 overs) vs Perth Scorchers, 14 January 2018
• Largest victory:
  • Batting first: 83 runs vs Hobart Hurricanes, 10 December 2017
  • Batting second: 55 balls remaining vs Melbourne Renegades, 25 November 2021
• Longest winning streak: 6 matches
• Longest losing streak: 8 matches

Source:^[51]

Individual stats

• Most runs: Sophie Devine – 2,174
• Highest score in an innings: Sophie Devine – 103* (48) vs Hobart Hurricanes, 26 December 2016
• Highest partnership: Sophie Devine and Bridget Patterson – 131 vs Melbourne Stars, 23 December 2018
• Most wickets: Amanda-Jade Wellington – 126
• Best bowling figures in an innings: Megan Schutt – 6/19 (3.3 overs) vs Sydney Thunder, 20 November 2022
• Hat-tricks taken: Darcie Brown vs Brisbane Heat, 24 October 2021^[52]
• Most catches (fielder): Bridget Patterson – 52
• Most dismissals (wicket-keeper): Tegan McPharlin – 91 (51 catches, 40 stumpings)

Source:^[51]

Individual awards

• Player of the Match:
  • Sophie Devine – 15
  • Tahlia McGrath – 8
  • Darcie Brown, Sarah Coyte, Katie Mack, Amanda-Jade Wellington – 4 each
  • Suzie Bates, Bridget Patterson, Megan Schutt, Laura Wolvaardt – 3 each
  • Madeline Penna – 2
  • Deandra Dottin, Lauren Ebsary, Tegan McPharlin, Alex Price, Tabatha Saville, Sarah Taylor, Stafanie Taylor – 1 each
• WBBL Player of the Tournament: Sophie Devine – WBBL|05
• WBBL Team of the Tournament:
  • Sophie Devine (4) – WBBL|02, WBBL|03, WBBL|04, WBBL|05
  • Darcie Brown (2) – WBBL|06, WBBL|07
  • Megan Schutt (2) – WBBL|05, WBBL|08
  • Amanda-Jade Wellington (2) – WBBL|07, WBBL|08
  • Sarah Coyte – WBBL|06
  • Tahlia McGrath – WBBL|07
• WBBL Young Gun Award: Darcie Brown – WBBL|06

Sponsors

Year	Kit Manufacturer	Chest Sponsor	Back Sponsor	Breast Sponsor	Sleeve Sponsor
2015–16	Majestic	Rebel	Websters Lawyers	Websters Lawyers	Websters Lawyers
2016–17			Statewide Super		Rebel
2017–18				Vodafone
2018–19		Vodafone	People's Choice	Statewide Super
2019–20
2020–21
2021–22	Nike	Oval Hotel	Oval Hotel	People's Choice

See also

• Cricket portal
• South Australia portal

• South Australian Cricket Association
• South Australian Scorpions

References

1. "Contact | SACA South Australian Cricket Association". saca.com.au. Archived from the original on 9 March 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
2. "Eight teams announced for Women's BBL". Retrieved 10 December 2016.
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4. "Stars sign on for WBBL01". cricket.com.au. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
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6. "Harris hundred highlights second week of WBBL | ESPNcricinfo.com". espncricinfo.com. 17 December 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
7. "Taylor shines as Strikers secure first win". Adelaide Strikers. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
8. "WBBL: All you need to know". cricket.com.au. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
9. "Ebsary Calls Stumps On WBBL Career". Perth Scorchers. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
10. "Scorchers star defects to Strikers". cricket.com.au. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
11. "NZ captain to lead Strikers in WBBL|03". cricket.com.au. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
12. "England star Edwards joins Strikers WBBL". SBS News. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
13. "Edwards to return to Adelaide in coaching role". Adelaide Strikers. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
14. "Strikers lure Nitschke out of retirement for WBBL". Adelaide Strikers. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
15. "Nitschke To Lead Scorchers Women Next Season". Perth Scorchers. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
16. "Strikers v Heat Super Over". Adelaide Strikers. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
17. "Get Ball by Ball Commentary of Brisbane Heat Women vs Adelaide Strikers Women 53rd Match 2017 | ESPNcricinfo.com". espncricinfo.com. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
18. "Big Bash League: Semi-final line-ups decided for men & women". BBC Sport. 21 January 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
19. "Recent Match Report - Adelaide Strikers Women vs Brisbane Heat Women Final 2019 | ESPNcricinfo.com". espncricinfo.com. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
20. "Get Ball by Ball Commentary of Adelaide Strikers Women vs Brisbane Heat Women Final 2019 | ESPNcricinfo.com". espncricinfo.com. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
21. "Dominant Heat claim back-to-back WBBL titles". cricket.com.au. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
22. "Women's Big Bash League - Adelaide Strikers Women Cricket Team Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
23. "Women's Big Bash League, 2015/16 Cricket Team Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
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25. "Mennie wins Neil Dansie Medal". Cricket SA. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
26. "Women's Big Bash League, 2016/17 Cricket Team Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
27. "Women's Big Bash League, 2016/17 Cricket Team Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
28. "MVPs | Adelaide Strikers - BBL". adelaidestrikers.com.au. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
29. "Women's Big Bash League, 2017/18 Cricket Team Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
30. "Women's Big Bash League, 2017/18 Cricket Team Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
31. "Devine crowned WBBL MVP". Adelaide Strikers. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
32. "Women's Big Bash League, 2018/19 Cricket Team Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
33. "Women's Big Bash League, 2018/19 Cricket Team Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Retrieved 21 October 2019.
34. "Consecutive MVP crowns for dominant Devine". Adelaide Strikers. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
35. "Women's Big Bash League, 2019/20 Cricket Team Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
36. "Women's Big Bash League, 2019/20 Cricket Team Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
37. "Devine wins third Strikers MVP". Adelaide Strikers. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
38. "Women's Big Bash League, 2020/21 Cricket Team Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
39. "Women's Big Bash League, 2020/21 Cricket Team Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
40. "Head, Patterson claim top State medals in season 2020-21". Cricket SA. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
41. "Women's Big Bash League, 2021/22 Cricket Team Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
42. "Women's Big Bash League, 2021/22 Cricket Team Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
43. "Webb and Hunt claim top honours at Dansie McCauley Medal night". Cricket SA. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
44. "Women's Big Bash League, 2022/23 Cricket Team Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
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46. "Full list of 22/23 Dansie McCauley Medal winners". Cricket SA. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
47. "New schedule, village confirmed for WBBL|06". cricket.com.au. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
48. "All the BBL and WBBL squads for 2024-25 season". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
49. "Players Selected for WBBL Associate Rookie Program". International Cricket Council website. International Cricket Council. 10 December 2015. Archived from the original on 25 December 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
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52. "Hat-trick, century headline thrilling WBBL Sunday". cricket.com.au. Retrieved 24 October 2021. ... Brown became the sixth player, and the first from the Strikers, to take a WBBL hat-trick.

Notes

1. Administrative and training base^[1]
2. Includes one win via Super Over
3. Includes one loss via Super Over
4. Includes three wins via Super Over
5. Megan Schutt stood in as acting captain for 13 games
6. Megan Schutt stood in as acting captain for 2 games
7. All WBBL|06 matches were scheduled to be played in Sydney due to the COVID-19 pandemic^[47]
8. Includes two wins via Super Over
9. Includes four wins via Super Over
10. Includes two losses via Super Over

External links

• Official website