Sydney Sixers coach Ben Sawyer eyes missing links ahead of WBBL06

Sydney Sixers coach Ben Sawyer is still in search of a couple of missing links in the puzzle which he thinks can work upon now after the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) contract embargo was lifted on Friday (July 17). The Sixers already have roped in a host of stars for the upcoming season and are in a strong position to rectify the mistakes after failing to miss out on the top four last year.



Australian superstar skipper Elysse Perry has already committed her future to Sixers for the next two seasons during the last contracting period. Perry’s availability also means that Sixers have completed a full quote of five marquee players for WBBL06 which also includes Alyssa Healy, Ashleigh Gardner and South Africans Marizanne Kapp and Dane van Niekerk.



Allrounder Erin Burns, who made her international debut last year, is also in the list of stars but do not possess the marquee tag since she doesn’t hold a current national contract. In all, the Sixers have filled at least eight out of 15 on their list. “We’ve got all our international and Aussie players locked in, so we have a good core to build around,” Sawyer was quoted as saying to cricket.com.au. “We’re still looking for a couple of things to strengthen our team.



“We’ve been looking for the next young spinner; we’ve got a lot of great quicks in Stella (Campbell), Hayley (Silver-Holmes) and Emma Hughes in terms of young pace bowlers, so we’d love to get in a young spinner – and another young middle-order bat to join Maddy Darke potentially,” added Sawyer, who led the Sixers to the top in 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons.



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“We’d be looking after the future of the team if we can develop a few younger cricketers and mix them in with the Australians we’ve got.” The 41-year-old was recently appointed as the assistant coach of New South Wales Breakers, which he believes will help him in scouting young talents for Sixers.



“A perfect example is someone like Phoebe Litchfield with the Thunder,” he said, referring to the 17-year-old batter who made quite an impression in her maiden Big Bash season last summer. “She’s a great talent and someone at NSW identified that quickly … it was great to see her go so well last year.



“If we can keep doing that at NSW, it’s going to benefit both Sydney clubs. If we give them an opportunity and a contract and get them in early to train with and learn from the likes of Ellyse, Alyssa, Erin and Ash, it’ll only be better for the future,” he added.



Sawyer also wants out-of-contract pacer Sarah Aley to play another season in Magenta after the 36-year-old announced her retirement from state cricket with New South Wales following the 2019-20 summer.



“That’s up to Mitsy (Aley) to be honest,” Sawyer said. “The Sixers would love to have her. We’ve left that with Mitsy, there’s a contract there for her and we’re happy to wait and see how she goes. Her experience around the team is pretty invaluable.”