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Sydney Sixers retain Jodie Hicks, Emma Hughes, Stella Campbell for WBBL06

Women's CricZone Staff

31 Aug 2020

New Update

Sydney Sixers retain Jodie Hicks, Emma Hughes, Stella Campbell for WBBL06 — (From L) Emma Hughes, Jodie Hicks and Stella Campbell. © Women's CricZone

Sydney Sixers have restored the commitment of allrounder Jodie Hicks and teenage bowlers Stella Campbell and Emma Hughes for the Women’s Big Bash League, the club announced in a statement on Monday (August 31).

Hicks, who hails from the Western Riverina region of the state, was a member of the Sixers’ squad for all the past five seasons and has penned a one-year deal. She also plays Australian rules football for the Greater Western Sydney Giants in the AFL Women’s competition.

Both Campbell and Hughes have signed for another two years. While Hughes is yet to debut, Campbell took five wickets for Sixers last season.

“They all bring something for us,” Sixers head coach Ben Sawyer said about the value all three players would bring for WBBL06 when it gets underway in late October. “Hicksy has been part of every WBBL campaign and forced her way into our starting XI at the back end of last season through hard work and perseverance.

“Over the years she has been vital for us in the field but she has worked hard on her batting and has contributed there too. Stella improved as the competition went on last year and when Ellyse Perry was injured Stella stepped up and became one of our bowlers in the power play which is a real responsibility,” added Sawyer.

“This pre-season she is pushing the radar gun up and up and is developing into one of the quickest bowlers in Australia. She will be important for us and if she continues on that path of hard work and improvement she is sure to get noticed by national selectors in the future.

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“Emma’s had a few shoulder injuries and is working hard to make it back to full fitness for the opening rounds of the WBBL. She has moved to Sydney from Dubbo and it’s positive that not only do we at the Sixers see her talent, but the NSW system obviously sees her potential too, by offering her a full state contract with the Breakers,” the coach said.

Campbell is currently busy completing her HSC studies at Mackellar Girls High School on the Northern Beaches. The right-arm pacer made her Women’s National Cricket League debut for the NSW Breakers last summer, before paving her way to the Governor General’s XI squad against India and a Cricket Australia XI that took on the Australian Women’s Cricket team.

Balancing her studies with cricket, she often leaves her Newport home at 6 am to travel to Sydney Olympic Park for one on one coaching before heading back to school. “It’s been a little hectic but then this year’s been hectic for everyone,” Campbell said.

“I try and take it day by day and plan as much as I can. I fit in training early in the morning or after school in the afternoons but it’s all going well.” Campbell will sit the HSC during the WBBL season, with five subjects to complete.

The squad now till now: Erin Burns, Stella Campbell, Lauren Cheatle, Maddy Darke, Ash Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jodie Hicks, Emma Hughes, Marizanne Kapp, Ellyse Perry, Hayley Silver-Holmes, Dane van Niekerk.

WBBL Sydney Sixers Jodie Hicks Emma Hughes