Three of the Melbourne Renegades’ finest players have been recognised for their outstanding performances with selection in the WBBL|05 Team of the Tournament.
Jess Duffin has been named captain of the team, in what is wonderful recognition of her 500-run season, her first as the club’s skipper.
She is joined in the team by batter Danni Wyatt and spinner Molly Strano, who have each enjoyed consistent superb seasons in their respective roles.
The selection panel comprised cricket.com.au journalist Laura Jolly, Head of Big Bash Leagues Alistair Dobson, Australia women's team head coach Matthew Mott, former Australian captain Belinda Clark, former Australian players Lisa Sthalekar (Seven Network) and Mel Jones (Fox Cricket) and ABC commentator Alister Nicholson.
As Jolly noted on cricket.com.au, Duffin was awarded the captaincy “for leading from the front with the bat and mentoring young players including Courtney Webb and Josie Dooley under pressure during tricky chases”.
That's five 50s in #WBBL05 for Jess Duffin. We've got the feeling she's not finished yet, either #GETONRED pic.twitter.com/gFMxZ312KX
%E2%80%94 Renegades WBBL (@RenegadesWBBL) December 1, 2019
Duffin’s ability to steer the team to safety in difficult situations has been outstanding, splitting her time between No. 4 and No. 5, finishing not out in five of her 12 innings and posting five 50s, hitting 12 sixes along the way.
Wyatt, meanwhile, has made the highest score of any Renegade this season (87 from 55 balls in the thrilling run chase against the Heat last Wednesday), and signed off with 468 runs for the season. She is now en route to the English women’s team’s training camp alongside teammate Tammy Beaumont and will take no further part in the tournament.
With 468 runs, @danni_wyatt has been one of the players of #WBBL05. Sadly, Danni + English teammate @tammy_beaumont won't be able to join us in the finals, but both are key reasons for our rise this season #GETONRED pic.twitter.com/6LHg7rhkew
%E2%80%94 Renegades WBBL (@RenegadesWBBL) December 1, 2019
As for Strano, she has taken 20 wickets from 14 matches, going at an economy rate of 7.43 runs per over. Whether it was opening the bowling or shouldering the load at the death, Strano has been a reliable option for skipper Duffin all season long, and even captained the side herself in the last-ball win over the Sixers.
The Renegades had more players (three) selected than any other WBBL team. The Adelaide Strikers, Brisbane Heat and Sydney Sixers had two players each, and the Perth Scorchers and Hobart Hurricanes had one.
Duffin and Strano loom as keys to the ‘Gades’ finals success, starting with the Second Semi-Final against the Heat at Brisbane’s Allan Border Field on Saturday.
WBBL|05 Team of the Tournament
In batting order
Beth Mooney (Brisbane Heat)
672 runs / 125 strike rate
Sophie Devine (Adelaide Strikers)
699 runs / 16 wickets
Danni Wyatt (Melbourne Renegades)
468 runs / 131 strike rate
Meg Lanning (Perth Scorchers)
530 runs / 119 strike rate
Ellyse Perry (Sydney Sixers)
469 runs / 112 strike rate
Jess Duffin – captain (Melbourne Renegades)
500 runs / 140 strike rate
Jess Jonassen (Brisbane Heat)
19 wickets / 348 runs
Marizanne Kapp (Sydney Sixers)
15 wickets / 232 runs
Molly Strano (Melbourne Renegades)
20 wickets / 7.4 economy rate
Megan Schutt (Adelaide Strikers)
13 wickets / 5.7 economy rate
Belinda Vakarewa (Hobart Hurricanes)
20 wickets / 6.1 economy rate