The Melbourne Stars have appointed a new captain to fill the vacancy left by absentee Meg Lanning, with Nicole Faltom to lead the club into the upcoming Weber WBBL season.
Faltom, a bat owner who hails from Gippsland in eastern Victoria, is just 22 years old but already has leadership experience at an elite level, having led Victoria for most of the 2021-22 season domestically for a day when Lanning was touring with Australia.
“It’s an honor to be captain of the Melbourne Stars for WBBL | 08, this club means so much to me and I’m so grateful to be given this opportunity,” said Faltom. “WBBL is always an exciting time of the year and I look forward to leading our young group this season, especially in Victoria in front of our members and fans.”
Lanning is on indefinite leave from the game, having announced in August that she will be stepping away from cricket shortly after leading the national team to Commonwealth Games gold in Birmingham.
Her absence left a gaping hole in the fighting star lineup, but the Melbourne club have recruited three top-tier players abroad including Indian superstar Jemima Rodriguez, England duo Alice Capsi and Lauren Winfield Hill.
Annabelle Sutherland will take on a growing responsibility with the bats, coming into the championship after two domestic one-day centuries, while Faltom achieved half a century of her career against Tasmania on Tuesday.
Jonathan Bate, who coached Sarri and Oval Invincibles in the UK, took over the coaching position from Jared Logman. After four different coaches over several years, the stars will be looking to settle down.
Stars start their career at WBBL | 08 on October 15 against the Brisbane Heat in Mackay.
Last year’s result: 5th (5 wins, 2 losses, 1 no score)
Foreign players signed: 3 of 3
Fitness Trainer: Jonathan Bate (new)
WBBL | 08 band: Nicole Faltom (C), Annabelle Sutherland (California Contractor), Alice Capsi (England), Jemima Rodriguez (India), Lauren Winfield Hill (Eng), Lucy Krebs, Sophie Day, Tess Flintoff, Kim Garth, Hasrat Jill, Olivia Henry, Rhys McKenna, Sasha Moloney, Sophie Reed
Not available: Meg Lanning (California contract)
in: Jemma Rodriguez (Rebels), Alice Capsi, Lauren Winfield Hill, Sasha Moloney (Hurricanes), Sophie Reed, Olivia Henry, Hasrat Gill
Outside: Elise Villani (Hurricanes), Erin Osborne (retired), Maddie Dark (Scorchers), Maya Boucher, Linsey Smith, Georgia Gal, Anna Lanning
The best possible eleventh: Sutherland, Winfield Hill, Capsi, Rodriguez, Moloney, Faltom (c) (week), Reed, Garth, Flintoff, Day, McKenna
The main player: Annabelle Sutherland. The 20-year-old enjoyed a stunning start to the 50-plus domestic season, reaching two centuries for Victoria in three rounds. She will be decisive with racket and ball, and has the carrot of vacancies in Australia, should she need any extra stimulus, which is highly unlikely.
imports: Alice Capsi is only 17 years old but already has a summer of international cricket under her belt after making her England debut in July. Veteran Winfield Hill was brought down by England during the one-day World Cup earlier this year, but took them to new heights, dominating both the Hundred (219 points with an average of 55 and batting average of 136) and the Rachel Heyhoe – Flint Cup (470). point at 78). Rodriguez missed India’s last match streak against England due to injury but hit back-to-back Fifties in the Asian Cup on her return.
worship hero: Kim Garth. The former Irish player, who made her country debut at the age of 14, is officially based in Australia and will play as a Local this season after obtaining permanent residency, opening up an additional spot for an outside player on the roster.
You should know about: generation limitations. The 16-year-old is one of the brightest young talents in Victorian cricket and was awarded a top-tier hat-trick in Melbourne Cricket Club’s premier cricket last January, concluding the season as the competition’s leading wicketmaker.
combinations
October 15 vs Heat, Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay
Oct 16 vs Sixers, Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay
October 20 vs Scorchers, Waka Ground, Perth
October 23 vs Thunder, Waka Ground, Perth
October 29 Against the Rebels, East Oval, Ballarat
October 31 against Thunder, East Oval, Ballarat
November 2 vs Strikers, Blacktown International Sportspark
November 5 vs. Strikers, Lilac Hill, Perth
November 12 vs Sixers, City Power Centre, Melbourne
November 13 Against the Rebels, CitiPower Centre, Melbourne
November 15 against hurricanes, La Trobe Recreation Stadium
November 16 against the hurricanes, Latrobe Recreation Stadium
November 18 vs. Scorchers, Ted Summerton Reserve, Mo
November 20 vs Heat, Ted Summerton Reserve, Mo
Weber WBBL and KFC BBL game tickets are on sale now. Get it at cricket.com.au/big-bash
Originally published at Melbourne News Vine
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