Overseas players locked in at Big Bash Drafts | Weber WBBL 10 | KFC BBL 14 Drafts

International athletes ensnared in the Weber WBBL|10, KFC BBL|14 Drafts

At today's Weber WBBL|10 and KFC BBL|14 Drafts, 49 players from all over the world are guaranteed spots on Big Bash League club rosters.

In the WBBL and BBL Drafts, respectively, spin bowler Sophie Ecclestone and batsman Ben Duckett emerged as the two most successful English players.

Ecclestone was the first of three players selected by the Hobart Hurricanes with their highly sought-after First Pick, however his selection occurred under unusual circumstances as each player was kept by their former team. Ecclestone will once again play for the Sydney Sixers, while Laura Wolvaardt of the Adelaide Strikers and Heather Knight of the Sydney Thunder, two other early picks, will also be playing for the Sydney Sixers in their former cities for WBBL|10. 

Danni Wyatt was acquired by the Hurricanes at the Platinum level following three attempts. In the first round, draft picks Sophie Devine (Perth Scorchers), Jemimah Rodrigues (Brisbane Heat), Deandra Dottin (Melbourne Renegades), and Deepti Sharma (Melbourne Stars) were also selected.

Batters dominated the BBL Draft in the early going. After the Stars selected Duckett, Laurie Evans moved to the Renegades, Shai Hope joined the Hurricanes, James Vince returned to the Sixers via a Retention Pick, and Pre-Signed Players Colin Munro (Heat) and Finn Allen (Scorchers) were given Round 1 Picks. The Thunder's and the Strikers' first recruits were fast bowler Lockie Ferguson and all-rounder Jamie Overton, respectively.

All 16 Pre-Signed Players were selected in each of the two Drafts, and clubs additionally activated four Retention Picks to prevent competitors from acquiring elite international players.

Big Bash League Executive General Manager for Cricket Australia, Alistair Dobson, stated:

"The 49 foreign players who were signed by eight different teams during the Weber WBBL|10 and KFC BBL|14 Drafts are welcomed and congratulated by the League.

The caliber of nominations submitted and the players recruited today indicate that the Big Bash continues to be a preferred destination for the greatest players in the globe. We appreciate each and every player who submitted a draft-eligible athlete and agent this year.

"We also congratulate and thank our clubs on the preparation for the event and the quality of lists they have compiled, and to Seven and Foxtel for their hard work in bringing the Drafts to life."

Results of Weber WBBL|10 Draft:

1. Sophie Ecclestone (Sydney Sixers, Platinum, Retention Pick)
2. Heather Knight (Sydney Thunder, Platinum, Retention Pick)
3. Laura Wolvaardt (Adelaide Strikers, Platinum, Retention Pick)
4. Danni Wyatt (Hobart Hurricanes, Platinum)
5. Deandra Dottin (Melbourne Renegades, Platinum)
6. Deepti Sharma (Melbourne Stars, Platinum)
7. Jemimah Rodrigues (Brisbane Heat, Platinum)
8. Sophie Devine (Perth Scorchers, Platinum, Pre-Signed Player)
9. Chloe Tryon (Hobart Hurricanes, Gold)
10. Amelia Kerr (Sydney Sixers, Platinum, Pre-Signed Player)
11. Hayley Matthews (Melbourne Renegades, Platinum, Pre-Signed Player)
12. Marizanne Kapp (Melbourne Stars, Platinum, Pre-Signed Player)
13. Shabnim Ismail (Sydney Thunder, Platinum)
14. Pass (Adelaide Strikers)
15. Shikha Pandey (Brisbane Heat, Gold)
16. Amy Jones (Perth Scorchers, Gold)
17. Hemalatha Dayalan (Perth Scorchers, Silver)
18. Pass (Brisbane Heat)
19. Alice Capsey (Melbourne Renegades, Gold)
20. Chamari Athapaththu (Sydney Thunder, Gold, Pre-Signed Player)
21. Yastika Bhatia (Melbourne Stars, Silver)
22. Smriti Mandhana (Adelaide Strikers, Silver, Pre-Signed Player)
23. Pass (Sydney Sixers)
24. Lizelle Lee (Hobart Hurricanes, Gold, Pre-Signed Player)
25. Pass (Hobart Hurricanes)
26. Hollie Armitage (Sydney Sixers, Bronze)
27. Orla Prendergast (Adelaide Strikers, Bronze)
28. Pass (Melbourne Stars)
29. Georgia Adams (Sydney Thunder, Bronze)
30. Pass (Melbourne Renegades)
31. Nadeine De Klerk (Brisbane Heat, Bronze, Pre-Signed Player)
32. Pass (Perth Scorchers)

Draft KFC BBL|14 Results:

1. Ben Duckett (Melbourne Stars, Platinum)
2. James Vince (Sydney Sixers, Platinum, Retention Pick)
3. Laurie Evans (Melbourne Renegades, Platinum)
4. Lockie Ferguson (Sydney Thunder, Platinum)
5. Shai Hope (Hobart Hurricanes, Platinum)
6. Jamie Overton (Adelaide Strikers, Platinum)
7. Colin Munro (Brisbane Heat, Platinum, Pre-Signed Player)
8. Finn Allen (Perth Scorchers, Platinum, Pre-Signed Player)
9. Tom Curran (Melbourne Stars, Platinum, Pre-Signed Player)
10. Jacob Bethell (Melbourne Renegades, Gold)
11. Ollie Pope (Adelaide Strikers, Gold, Pre-Signed Player)
12. Chris Jordan (Hobart Hurricanes, Platinum, Pre-Signed Player)
13. Sam Billings (Sydney Thunder, Platinum, Pre-Signed Player)
14. Paul Walter (Brisbane Heat, Gold)
15. Pass (Perth Scorchers)
16. Akeal Hosein (Sydney Sixers, Gold, Pre-Signed Player)
17. Pass (Sydney Sixers)
18. Matthew Hurst (Perth Scorchers, Silver)
19. Pass (Brisbane Heat)
20. Fabian Allen (Adelaide Strikers, Silver)
21. Pass (Hobart Hurricanes)
22. Sherfane Rutherford (Sydney Thunder, Silver)
23. Tim Seifert (Melbourne Renegades, Gold, Pre-Signed Player)
24. Usama Mir (Melbourne Stars, Silver)
25. Pass (Melbourne Stars)
26. Pass (Melbourne Renegades)
27. Pass (Sydney Thunder)
28. Rishad Hossain (Hobart Hurricanes, Bronze)
29. Pass (Adelaide Strikers)
30. Tom Alsop (Brisbane Heat, Bronze)
31. Keaton Jennings (Perth Scorchers, Bronze)
32. Jafer Chohan (Sydney Sixers, Bronze)

Tickets on Sale

Tickets for every Weber WBBL|10 and KFC BBL|14 match are now on sale at cricket.com.au/big-bash.

Fans are encouraged to buy early and save, with early bird prices available until October 10 for WBBL tickets and November 14 for BBL tickets.