Mignon du Preez to represent Hobart Hurricanes in WBBL07

South Africa batter Mignon du Preez has moved to Hobart Hurricanes from Melbourne Stars ahead of the seventh season of Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), the Tasmania based club announced on Thursday (September 2).



32-year-old du Preez was one of the key members of the Stars when they reached the final of WBBL06 and eventually finished as the runners-up after losing the final to Sydney Thunder. She made her WBBL debut during the first season with the Melbourne side and has played all of her 64 matches for them in the competition. She has scored 1498 runs – second most for Stars after Meg Lanning – at an average of 26.75 in the tournament with ten fifties to her name.



“I’m really looking forward to starting this new chapter playing with the Hurricanes,” du Preez said about signing for the side in purple. “I’ve obviously loved my time playing with the Stars but am really looking forward to this new challenge with the Hurricanes.  From afar, the Hurricanes have been running a great program for several years now and have been building a great list over the off-season, so I can’t wait to experience it for myself.”



ALSO READ: The paradoxical ways of Mignon du Preez



South Africa are currently playing West Indies in the Caribbean for a limited over series of three T20Is and five ODIs. Du Preez has been part of franchise cricket in the now-defunct Women’s Cricket Super League (WCSL) and was recently seen in The Hundred where she represented Manchester Originals.



“It’s a great competition the WBBL, involving the best group of female cricketers in the world.  I think with the team the Hurricanes have built for this season, combining both old and new faces, we will really have the opportunity to make a statement on-field this year,” du Preez added.



Hurricanes struggled during WBBL06 and finished at the bottom of the table with only three wins from 14 matches. They will start the upcoming season with their match against Melbourne Renegades on October 17.



Hobart Hurricanes squad: Nicola Carey, Mignon du Preez, Maisy Gibson, Rachel Priest, Chloe Rafferty, Amy Smith, Naomi Stalenberg, Molly Strano, Rachel Trenaman, Belinda Vakarewa, Tayla Vlaeminck