Harmanpreet Kaur has made history as the lone Indian cricketer to be shortlisted for the prestigious Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) Team of the Decade. The 50-player shortlist, revealed on November 7, includes players who have participated in at least 60 WBBL matches prior to this season. This shortlist is part of an initiative to celebrate the achievements of the league's greatest players over its 10-year history.
Kaur, who has been an influential player for India and the Mumbai Indians in the WBBL, stands out as the only Indian representative in a pool dominated by Australian and overseas stars. The final 12-player team will be selected after public voting, which will take place from November 11-24 via the Big Bash App. The panel overseeing the selection consists of experts such as Cricket Australia Director Clea Smith, former players Mel Jones and Lisa Sthalekar, as well as Matthew Mott, Quentin Hull, Laura Jolly, and Alistair Dobson.
The Team of the Decade will honor the players who have contributed significantly to the growth of the league, recognizing their performances over the years. Public voting will have equal importance alongside the expert panel's selections. The final team, which will include a maximum of three overseas players, will be announced at the WBBL 10 final on December 1.
Notable Australian players on the shortlist include Ellyse Perry, Alyssa Healy, Grace Harris, Megan Schutt, and Beth Mooney, along with former players Meg Lanning and Rachael Haynes. The overseas players in contention include recent T20 World Cup winners like Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates, along with South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt and Marizane Kapp.
In addition to Kaur, other overseas players vying for a spot in the final 12 include New Zealand’s Rachel Priest and Amy Satterthwaite, South Africa's Mignon du Preez and Lizelle Lee, and West Indies' Stafanie Taylor and Hayley Matthews. England’s Heather Knight and Natalie Sciver-Brunt also feature in the shortlist, while Australia's Tahlia McGrath and Jess Jonassen are among the prominent current players.
The selection process will involve a blend of expert analysis and public opinion, ensuring that the final WBBL Team of the Decade reflects both historical contributions and current form. With the public having the opportunity to influence the final choices, the next few weeks will be crucial as fans eagerly await the announcement of the all-time greats of the WBBL on December 1. Here’s a look at the full WBBL Team of the Decade shortlist:
- Sarah Aley
- Samantha Bates
- Suzie Bates (New Zealand)
- Alex Blackwell
- Nicole Bolton
- Nicola Carey
- Lauren Cheatle
- Sarah Coyte
- Hannah Darlington
- Sophie Devine (New Zealand)
- Mignon du Preez (South Africa)
- Jess Duffin
- Rene Farrell
- Ashleigh Gardner
- Heather Graham
- Nicola Hancock
- Grace Harris
- Laura Harris
- Rachael Haynes
- Alyssa Healy
- Sammy-Jo Johnson
- Jess Jonassen
- Marizanne Kapp (South Africa)
- Harmanpreet Kaur (India)
- Delissa Kimmince
- Alana King
- Heather Knight (England)
- Meg Lanning
- Lizelle Lee (South Africa)
- Katien Mack
- Hayley Matthews (West Indies)
- Tahlia McGrath
- Tegan McPharlin
- Sophie Molineux
- Beth Mooney
- Ellyse Perry
- Rachel Priest (New Zealand)
- Georgia Redmayne
- Amy Satterthwaite (New Zealand)
- Megan Schutt
- Natalie Sciver-Brunt (England)
- Molly Strano
- Annabel Sutherland
- Stafanie Taylor (West Indies)
- Dane van Niekerk (South Africa)
- Elyse Villani
- Georgia Wareham
- Amanda-Jade Wellington
- Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa)
- Danni Wyatt-Hodge (England)
