WBBL Review: Heather Knight dominates as Darcie Brown ramps up the pace

Only two of four games reached results, with Melbourne Stars having a third successive match washed out, but there were still plenty of talking points to emerge

More rain frustration

Twelve games into this year’s Women’s Big Bash, we’ve only seen five results. A uniquely frustrating year is showing few signs of abating.

Seven games have fallen foul to the Sydney weather – the perils of which England’s players know only too well after the soggy farce that surrounded their exit from the T20 World Cup in March.

And so, it would be hard not to sympathise with Melbourne Stars, who have seen all three of their matches washed out. Their game against Sydney Sixers was the latest not to make it past the bat flip.

But from a drama perspective, it was equally disappointing to see the elements curtail Hobart Hurricanes’ shortened chase against Brisbane Heat. They were 43 without loss after 4.3 overs, tasked with reeling in 106 in 11 overs, with overseas big-hitters Rachel Priest and Chloe Tryon going well. Ultimately, a point each but a fascinating battle ruined by the weather.

Heather Knight’s T20 transformation

In one of two games that managed to reach a result, Heather Knight offered yet more evidence of her T20 transformation.

In just her third match for Sydney Thunder, she surpassed her highest Women’s Big Bash score from her days with Hobart Hurricanes, for whom she played 55 matches.

Arriving at the crease in the seventh over with a platform well set for her, the England captain hammered 83 off just 39 balls; she was only at the crease for 11 overs.

^{Beth Mooney and Sophie Devine were at the fore for Perth Scorchers}

It is the latest landmark innings in a remarkable about-turn as a T20 batsman; Knight had only ever passed fifty once in T20Is between her debut in 2010 and January 2020. In 10 months since, she has added three more half centuries and a maiden T20I hundred against Thailand. Curiously, all five of those scores have come at Canberra’s Manuka Oval, a venue she would no doubt like to wrap up and bring home with her.

However, even during the English summer against West Indies, she looked in fine touch, standing unusually tall in her stance.

A shoutout as well to Sammy-Jo Johnson, who – having joined from Brisbane Heat in the off-season – struck 30 off 13 balls, including four sixes in a single Amanda-Jade Wellington over.

Scorchers lay down a marker

With Perth Scorchers’ top order, they should win more games than they lose: Sophie Devine and Beth Mooney were the highest run-scorers in last year’s tournament by such a distance that Perth went out of their way to coax both of them away from Adelaide Strikers and Brisbane Heat.

Their arrivals, of course, were designed to offset the departure of Meg Lanning, the world’s best batsman and perhaps the greatest in the history of the women’s game.

^{Heather Knight reached her highest WBBL score}

And so, it came as some surprise when they were restricted to 132 for 7 in their opening game, losing by seven wickets.

Against Melbourne Renegades, however, they were far more convincing, first restricting them to 105 for 5 from their 20 overs, and then in reaching 62 without loss when rain brought about a premature end. They were so far ahead of the eight-ball that a Duckworth-Lewis-Stern victory was never in doubt, with Devine and Mooney together until the end.

Let’s talk about Darcie Brown

In kilometres per hour, these were the speeds of Darcie Brown’s second over for Adelaide Strikers against Sydney Thunder: 118.6, 119.5, 121.5, 122.1, 122.1, 125.7.

In England, teenage tearaway Issy Wong has spoken of her desire to become the first woman to break the 80mph barrier.

In Australia, she might have some competition. Brown, just 17 years of age, is in her first year as a Women’s Big Bash player but has already impressed roundly.

The youngest-ever player to represent Adelaide Strikers, the seamer took three wickets on her debut, including that of Nicola Carey with a quick, hooping in-swinger.

Against Thunder, she went wicketless, but her raw pace has opened eyes and got the women’s game talking. With Tayla Vlaeminck’s progress stunted by injury, could Brown be Australia’s next pace hope?

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