One of the world’s most dominant cricketers, Suzie Bates, is set to return the Sydney Sixers for a second consecutive season, signing with the club ahead of Weber WBBL|09.
Rounding out the club’s trio of international stars by joining South Africa's Chloe Tryon and fellow Kiwi Jess Kerr, Bates opted to sign with the club following the WBBL Draft via the direct nomination mechanism.
Beginning her WBBL career with the Perth Scorchers in the competition’s inaugural season, Bates spent two summers in Perth before moving south to Adelaide, captaining the Strikers for four years.
Sitting out WBBL|07, the right-hander returned to the league last summer, swapping blue for pink, joining a star-studded Sixers lineup including the likes of Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner and Alyssa Healy.
Combining with opening partner Healy, the top-order pair led the charge, returning the Sixers to their former glory, back to the top of the WBBL table and into the final match of the summer.
One of the league’s leading run-scorers last season, Bates notched 318 runs, including a high-score of 82 not out against former side, the Strikers.
Widely regarded as one of New Zealand’s greatest ever players, Bates remains one of the most experienced heads in international cricket.
Making her debut for New Zealand against India in 2006, the top-order bat was named captain of the White Ferns in 2011.
The ICC’s ODI Player of the Year and T20I Player of the Year in 2016, Bates is currently the fourth highest run-scorer in women’s one-day international cricket (5360 runs) and the all-time leading run-scorer in women’s T20I cricket with an incredible 3953 runs to her name.
Head of Sydney Sixers, Rachael Haynes said turning down the all-rounder was never an option for the club.
“Suzie has been, and still remains, one of the top players in the world. If a player of the calibre of Suzie Bates wants to play at your club, you don’t say no.
“There’s a reason Suzie has been so successful for such a long time. She’s driven, determined and hard-working, as well as incredibly skillful and a terrific team person. Her knowledge of the game is near unbeatable.
"What she can provide to our group both on and off the field is priceless and we're thrilled to have her back at the Sixers this summer."