From orange to magenta: Nicole Bolton makes the move to Sydney Sixers

Veteran batter Nicole Bolton has signed a two year-deal with Sydney Sixers, the Women's Big Bash League club announced on Wednesday (August 4). The left-hander, who has spent the entirety of her WBBL career in the orange of Perth Scorchers, will help fill the gaping holes left by South African duo Dane van Niekerk and Marizanne Kapp.



Over six seasons of the WBBL, Bolton scored 1494 runs in 86 matches, and is the club's second highest run-scorer - behind Elyse Villani (1706) - to date. She is also their joint-most capped player alongside allrounder Heather Graham.



The 32-year-old, who has represented Australia 55 times across all three formats, expressed excitement at joining the two-time champions, before thanking the Scorchers for their support through her time at the club.



“It’s going to be a massive change, but I’m really excited about this little phase in my career and looking forward to getting into the magenta,” Bolton said. “The WACA has been extremely supportive of my decision to move across to the magenta and I can’t thank them enough for the contribution that they’ve made to me, not just for my cricket, but as a person over the last six years.”



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Through her WBBL career, Bolton has batted in various positions for the Scorchers - occupying a role at the top before shifting into the middle order in recent years. Her versatility with the bat, combined with her improved bowling skills - she has taken 41 WBBL wickets - make her an important addition to the Sixers' squad.



“The whole club is super excited to have Nicole come across to the Sixers for the next few seasons,” said Sixers skipper Ellyse Perry. “Bolts has had an incredibly successful career at every level of the game. On and off the field she is a great contributor to any team she is involved in, and selfishly it will be lovely to have a chance to play WBBL with a great mate. "



The first and only Australian to score a century on ODI debut, Bolton said she is excited to reunite with her Australian teammates Perry, Alyssa Healy and Ashleigh Gardner. The left-hander last played with them during the Ashes series in England in July 2019. She said the success and stability of the Sydney club have stood out through the years.



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“When I was first approached by the club, I hadn’t really thought about a move to be honest."



“The Sixers have been a really stable club since the WBBL started and have been really successful … how the whole organisation is set up made it really appealing to look into as an opportunity.”



“Just the idea of being able to play with Pez, Heals and Ashleigh Gardner, I’m pretty good mates with all three and, it was a pretty easy decision in the end,” Bolton concluded.



The Sixers are set to kick their WBBL07 campaign off against Melbourne Stars on October 14. They have not yet announced any overseas signings, but whispers suggest that they have Indian teen sensation Shafali Verma on their radar.