Katey Martin, Lizelle Lee complete Melbourne Stars squad

Katey Martin and Lizelle Lee complete Melbourne Stars squad for the upcoming season of Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), starting October 18. Martin and Lee along with Emma Inglis return to the team, while youngsters Lucy Cripps and Tess Flintoff joined the Stars on Thursday (October 3).



Martin, New Zealand wicket-keeper-batter, signed with the Stars on a full contract basis. She had previously been an international replacement player. The 34-year-old has played 74 T20Is for the Kiwis, scoring 773 runs with a high score of 65.



Lee, South Africa opening batter, has also re-signed with the club after a blistering fourth season where she opened the tournament with a century against Sydney Sixers. The 27-year-old has amassed 1383 runs, including a high score of 75 not out, in her 64 T20I appearances for South Africa. In the WBBL too, Lee's big-hitting has often been on display. In 26 matches for Melbourne Stars, the right-hander has amassed 625 runs at a striker rate of 121.12, including 24 sixes.



 

Super excited to be heading back to the @StarsBBL for WBBL|05! 💚🖤 https://t.co/XixZCFZMK4

— Katey Martin (@kmarty01) October 3, 2019

 



“It is great to secure the signatures of both Katey and Lizelle for the upcoming season," said David Hemp, head coach of Stars. "Together with Mignon du Preez, we believe we have three strong international signings who will all bolster our batting stocks. We are really excited to have Katey on board for the entire season. She has been great around the group when coming in as a replacement player for the past two seasons so we cannot wait to see what she brings to the table this season.”



Inglis, a Western Australia player, who had played for the Stars in the first two editions, makes a comeback to the team while Cripps and Flintoff earned their first WBBL contracts.



“We know that Emma is a powerful batter and brings plenty of experience, so we’re pleased to welcome her back to the Stars. Lucy and Tess are both young and talented cricketers coming through the system. Tess recently made her Victorian debut and we’re looking forward to seeing both players grow throughout the competition and learn from the senior playing group,” Hemp concluded.



Stars are set to kick off their campaign against Hobart Hurricanes on October 19 and 20.



Squad: Kristen Beams, Lucy Cripps, Mignon du Preez (South Africa), Nicole Faltum, Holly Ferling, Tess Flintoff, Nicola Hancock, Emma Inglis, Alana King, Lizelle Lee (South Africa), Katey Martin (New Zealand), Erin Osborne, Angela Reakes, Annabel Sutherland, Elyse Villani.