The final of the Women’s Big Bash League 2021 has just finished. Adelaide Strikers who annihilated Brisbane Heat and then Melbourne Renegades to qualify for the final came up just short against the Perth Scorchers, who qualified directly for the final by virtue of winning the league stage outright.
SCORCHERS INNINGS
Although Tahlia McGrath (4-0-14-1) and Megan Schutt (4-0-19-1) were typically economical, Scorchers posted a respectable 146-5 from their 20 overs with major contributions from Sophie Devine and Marizanne Kapp. Amanda-Jade Wellington, leading wicker of the tournament and joint lead wicket taker of any WBBL tournament had an off day for once.
STRIKERS REPLY
Strikers got off to a horribly slow start and although they subsequently revived their innings well they were always well behind the required rate. With four overs to go they needed 53, and although Madeline Penna counterattacked successfully in the 17th over, the 18th and 19th were both far too economical for that stage of an innings, and Strikers needed 22 off the last over. Peschel bowled two wides in the course of the final over, but the other deliveries were good enough that 14 were needed off the final ball. Only a single eventuated, and Scorchers were home by 12 runs.
A MULTI-TALENTED TEAM
Although she did not play the final today, this part of the post is inspired by an Adelaide Strikers player, all rounder Jemma Barsby. She bowls both off spin and left arm orthodox spin, which is a combination of talents I have not previously come across. I have put together an XI of players who had talents in multiple areas, which I list below in batting order with brief comments on their range of talents.
- *WG Grace – right handed opening batter, right arm bowler of various styles, captain.
- +George Brown – right handed batter, right arm fast bowler, wicket keeper. He was good enough as an opener to be selected for England in that role, he took a decent haul of wickets as a bowler, and Hampshire’s best bowler of his era, Alec Kennedy, rated him the best keeper who ever kept to him.
- Garry Sobers – left handed batter, left arm bowler of pretty much every type known to cricket. The most complete player the game has thus far seen.
- Wally Hammond – right handed batter, right arm medium fast bowler, occasional off spinner.
- Liam Livingstone – right handed batter, leg spinner, off spinner.
- Keith Miller – right handed batter, right arm fast bowler, occasional off spinner.
- Mike Procter – right handed batter, right arm fast bowler, occasional off spinner.
- Jemma Barsby – right handed batter, off spinner, left arm orthodox spinner.
- Alan Davidson – left handed batter, left arm fast bowler, occasional left arm orthodox spinner.
- Len Muncer – off spinner, leg spinner, right handed batter.
- Bill Johnston – left arm fast medium bowler, left arm orthodox spinner, left handed batter.
12th: Frank Worrell, RHB, LFM, occ SLA. Honourable mentions: Ellyse Perry, RHB, RFM, also a football international and Cecil Parkin, an off spinner with a raft of variations.
PHOTOGRAPHS
My usual sign off…
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