English superstar, and Sixers fan favourite, Sophie Ecclestone is set to return to Sydney this summer, with the spinner retained by the club in Sunday’s Weber WBBL|10 Overseas Player Draft.
Ecclestone will be joined at the Sixers by fellow English recruit, Hollie Armitage, as well as New Zealand all-rounder, Amelia Kerr, who was pre-signed by the club earlier this year.
Tasked with Pick 2 in the draft, the Sixers wasted no time enacting their rights to retention when the Hobart Hurricanes selected Ecclestone with the first overall pick.
The world’s #1 ranked bowler, Ecclestone was rightfully expected to be one of the most sought-after commodities in this year’s draft, with the Sixers successfully retaining the off-spinner in pink for the upcoming summer.
First joining the club two seasons ago, the superstar set the competition alight, entertaining fans with her brilliant bowling, commanding ability with the bat and an effervescent personality that quickly cemented her as a league favourite.
Ecclestone is set to be joined this summer by fellow Englishwoman – and former Sydney Sixer – Hollie Armitage, who was selected by the club in the fourth round, at Pick 26.
Armitage previously pulled on Sixers colours in WBBL|05, when she was recruited as a replacement for the injured Ellyse Perry, playing five matches for the side.
The 27-year-old brings a wealth of leadership experience down under, currently captaining her domestic sides in Yorkshire, the Northern Diamonds and The Hundred’s Northern Superchargers.
An all-rounder by trade, Armitage brings flexibility to the squad with her ability to slide up or down the order depending on the needs of the side, as well as providing an additional leg-spin option for the team.
The club rounded out their WBBL recruits, with pre-signed all-rounder, Amelia Kerr, assigned to Pick 10 in the draft.
As announced earlier this year, the Sixers secured Kerr for the next three seasons, under the league’s new contracting rules, allowing each club to pre-sign one overseas player ahead of the draft.
As per the newly implemented rules, each pre-signed player was required to be allocated to one of the club’s selections at the draft, in the salary band (i.e. Platinum) that correctly matches the player contract.
The #2 ranked all-rounder in the world, Kerr is widely regarded as one of the most electrifying players in the game and one of the off-season’s most sought-after talents.
The Sixers will officially kick off their Weber WBBL|10 campaign on Sunday, October 27, taking on the Melbourne Renegades at Adelaide Oval.
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Sydney Sixers WBBL|10 Draft Selections:
Pick 1 (retention) – Sophie Ecclestone, England
Pick 10 (pre-signed) – Amelia Kerr, New Zealand
Pick 26 – Hollie Armitage, England
Sydney Sixers WBBL|10 squad to date: Hollie Armitage, Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns, Mathilda Carmichael, Lauren Cheatle, Sophie Ecclestone, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Amelia Kerr, Kate Pelle, Ellyse Perry, Kate Peterson, Courtney Sippel.