All eyes on Beth Mooney, Meg Lanning as WBBL contract signing looms

After Cricket Australia (CA) announced the complete 59-match Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) schedule on Wednesday (July 15), the franchises are likely to start signing players when the contract embargo finally lifts later this week. The sixth season of the WBBL, scheduled to begin in October, is set to be the second standalone season with more broadcast matches than before.



Usually, the player signings happen during autumn and winter but the uncertainty caused due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has put the contracting window on hold. CA’s Head of the Big Bash Leagues, Alastair Dobson, said clubs and players alike were eager to start putting pen to paper.



“We’re hoping to open contracting within the next couple of days,” Dobson told reporters on Wednesday. “We know there’s real interest from our clubs to start to finalise their lists given the season is not too far away.” Although nothing official has been out in public yet there are huge rumours about the destination of competition’s two biggest attractions -- Australian captain Meg Lanning and T20 World Cup player of the tournament Beth Mooney.



According to cricket.com.au, Lanning is likely to return to Melbourne Stars – the side she spent the first two WBBL seasons with – after spending a couple of seasons at Perth Scorchers. On the other hand, Lanning’s departure gives Perth a suitable replacement in Mooney who is linked for a move to the west.



ALSO READ: Full-fledged season, more televised matches & a three-week Sydney hub – WBBL 06 fixtures announced



Meanwhile, the international travel restrictions and quarantine periods due to the pandemic posing problems, Dobson said the organisers and the franchises are committed to bringing in top talents global talents. According to the WBBL contracting policy, every team can sign five ‘marquee’ international players altogether, with a maximum of three from overseas.



“A really big part of the success of the WBBL is having the best players in the world being able to play,” Dobson said. “There’s some uncertainty around international commitments for players from other countries which is natural in the current environment when other countries need to reschedule competitions and series. But we’re working really hard on the protocols and exemptions and processes and our clubs really committed to bringing those players in, so I’m hopeful we can have as many of the big stars again as we have in the past,” he added.



Meanwhile, back-to-back defending champions Brisbane Heat will be eager to start their recruitment proceedings, having just one player – Australian allrounder Delissa Kimmince – signed for the upcoming season. There are several big names who are still out of contract and that include Australia spin star Jess Jonassen, pacer Sammy-Jo Johnson and the hard-hitting batter Grace Harris.