In what is a major coup, Sydney Sixers have drafted in the World’s No. 1 T20 bowler Sophie Ecclestone for the Women’s Big Bash League. Ecclestone, who has never played in the WBBL before, joins the side coached by former England captain Charlotte Edwards, who expressed her delight at ‘recruiting the best.’
“Sophie is the [world’s] leading T20 bowler – her record over the past few years speaks for itself – and we’re delighted to have her at the Sixers,” Edwards said. “In my opinion, we have recruited the best.
“She can bowl in all phases of the game; she has the ability to take wickets at crucial times, and she can minimise the run-scoring at all times. I know the WBBL is a competition Sophie wants to play in, and the fact she’s had lots of experience playing in Australia will hold her in good stead,” Edwards said.
Though Ecclestone hasn’t played in the competition before, she enjoyed a fine T20 World Cup Down Under in 2020, where she bagged 8 wickets in 4 outings and bowled at an economy rate of 3.23. The 23-year-old left-arm spinner, who made her international debut in 2017 as a 17-year-old, has picked 78 wickets in 58 games in the shortest format.
“They play in my favourite colour – so that’s a great start,” Ecclestone said. “Obviously they have great players with the likes of [Alyssa] Healy, [Ellyse] Perry and [Ash] Gardner, so I’m really excited about going over and playing with them.
