WBBL09 Team of the week: Who joins Hayley Matthews, Ash Gardner and Harmanpreet Kaur in our XI?

The Cricketer looks back on the best performances from week one of the 2023 Women's Big Bash

The 2023 Women's Big Bash got underway on October 23. Matthew Luddington selects an XI of the best performers from week one...

Chamari Athapaththu (Sydney Thunder)

52 & 3-20 vs Sydney Sixers

The Sri Lanka captain, signed as an overseas replacement player for Thunder, has made an immediate impact. She struck a glorious half-century in an opening partnership of 98 runs alongside Tahlia Wilson, taking a particular fancy to Sydney Sixers' spinners during her fantastic innings of 52.

She also excelled with the ball, making a number of pivotal breakthroughs and conceding just 20 runs in her four overs. Notably, she dismissed Kate Pelle for a duck and removed the dangerous Ash Gardner.

Grace Harris (Brisbane Heat)

49 vs Melbourne Renegades, 136* & 1-21 vs Perth Scorchers

Promoted to the opening the batting this season, the Australia international displayed her remarkable talent in unforgettable fashion.

After blazing 49 runs off just 26 deliveries against Renegades - a crucial innings with Heat going on to win by just six runs - she scored a sensational record-breaking century against Perth Scorchers, finishing unbeaten on 136 from only 59 balls (Smriti Mandhana's unbeaten 114 was the previous high score). She smashed a record 11 sixes - one of which came with a broken bat - and powered her side to the second-highest total (229 for 7) in WBBL history. The wicket of Amy Jones was the icing on the cake.

Beth Mooney (Perth Scorchers)

2 catches & 2 stumpings vs Hobart Hurricanes, 60 vs Brisbane Heat

The Australia international demonstrated her skills both as a wicketkeeper and a batter in her first two matches of the season. Against Hurricanes, she took two catches and took two sharp stumpings, and has yet to concede a bye in WBBL09. Against Heat, she produced a sensational innings, adding 60 runs from just 30 deliveries and displaying her fantastic repertoire of shots.

^{Grace Harris [Mark Evans/Getty Images]}

Hayley Matthews (Melbourne Renegades)

3-30 vs Brisbane Heat, 2-20 vs Adelaide Strikers,

The West Indies captain has made a strong start this season as the leader of the Renegades, but it's her impact with the ball thus far that truly stands out. She claimed the crucial top-order wickets of Mignon du Preez, Georgia Voll, and Georgia Redmayne against Heat before picking up another two against Adelaide Strikers. 

Her partnership with Tammy Beaumont has shown promise too, with the pair piling on 55 runs in a little over five overs against Heat. 

Sophie Devine (Perth Scorchers)

87 & 1-14 vs Hobart Hurricanes

Devine made an explosive start to WBBL09, smashing an unbeaten 87 from just 44 deliveries, including 11 fours and two sixes. This remarkable display of batting power propelled the Scorchers to 186 for 4 and she later picked up the wicket of Naomi Stalenberg to help secure an emphatic victory. The New Zealand captain demonstrated her strength square of the wicket against the seam bowlers, then during the middle overs, she dispatched the slower bowlers straight down the ground.

Harmanpreet Kaur (Melbourne Renegades)

31 & 1-10 vs Brisbane Heat, 43 & 2-11 v Adelaide Strikers

Kaur delivered a standout performance in her side's opener against Heat, taking two crucial catches to dismiss Redmayne and Charli Knott, picking up the wicket of Jess Jonassen and scoring 31 runs.

Against Strikers, she continued her stellar form by striking an unbeaten 43 from 33 balls to propel the Renegades to 167. She took another catch and contributed 2 for 11 off 1.5 overs with the ball, sealing Renegades' first win of the season with the wicket of Megan Schutt.

^{Anesu Mushangwe [Daniel Pockett/Getty Images]}

Ash Gardner (Sydney Sixers)

72 & 2-23 vs Melbourne Stars

While Sydney Sixers have made a disappointing start to the season, Gardner has shone, reaffirming why many consider her the best allrounder in the world.  She picked up two wickets against Stars and kept her side alive with the bat. With Sixers struggling on 71 for 6, she struck 72 runs, including two towering sixes through midwicket, but despite her efforts, she couldn't carry her side to victory.

Annabel Sutherland (Melbourne Stars)

34 & 4-27 vs Sydney Sixers

The 22-year-old delivered a player of the match-winning performance in Stars' opener against Sixers, playing a stylish innings of 34 runs from just 22 balls to help her side post 165 before sparkling with the ball.

She took a crucial catch to dismiss the dangerous Alyssa Healy and removed Chloe Tryon and Mathilda Carmichael before changing the game in the 19th over when she dismissed Gardner (72) and Maitlan Brown (35), shifting the game's momentum in favour of the Stars. In the final over, she displayed exceptional agility and accuracy to run out Kate Peterson, ultimately securing a two-run win for her side.

Anesu Mushangwe (Adelaide Strikers)

2-12 vs Melbourne Stars, 1-21 vs Melbourne Renegades

The Zimbabwean leg-spinner has a fantastic record in WT20Is, having captured 33 wickets at a remarkable average of 7.42 and an economy rate just above 3, and is now making a significant impact in the WBBL.

Entrusted with opening the bowling against Stars, she removed England internationals Sophia Dunkley and Capsey in her second over, a key contribution towards the batting side's collapse to 29 all out. She continued to shine against Melbourne Renegades, taking the wicket of Beaumont and displaying her prowess in the field with a catch to dismiss Josie Dooley.

^{Chloe Ainsworth [Mark Evans/Getty Images]}

Sophie Day (Melbourne Stars)

1-23 vs Sydney Sixers, 3-24 vs Adelaide Strikers

The left-arm spinner has made a bright start to the campaign for Stars. Against Sydney Sixers, she struck in the powerplay to remove Healy while against Adelaide Strikers, she collected three wickets, including openers Laura Wolvaardt and Katie Mack. She has effectively varied her pace and flight, making it difficult for batters to target her.

Chloe Ainsworth (Perth Scorchers)

2-10 v Hobart Hurricanes, 2-40 v Brisbane Heat

On her WBBL debut, the Australia Under-19 international showcased exactly why she's considered a rising star, bowling Lizelle Lee just two balls into her spell and quickly following it with the wicket of Heather Graham. Against Heat, she picked up two in two when she removed Redmayne and Voll with consecutive deliveries in the powerplay. She is a genuine pace threat in the Scorchers attack and a player seemingly unfazed by the big stage.