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Updated WBBL|02 squads for each club

The big names are rolling in as the second edition of the Rebel WBBL draws closer

The second edition of the Women's Big Bash League promises to be bigger and better than the first, with more games to be broadcast by Network Ten and more double headers played alongside the KFC Big Bash League.

With the schedule confirmed, clubs are now busy finalising their playing squads for the tournament beginning in December.

Quick single: Blockbuster weekend to launch WBBL|02

Expect to see plenty of signings between now and the first matches on December 10, with each club able to sign 15 players for WBBL|02. 

Teams can sign up to five current or recent Southern Stars, or up to three overseas players in place of the equivalent number of Australian players. To qualify as an Australian player, they must have represented the Southern Stars between July 1, 2013 and July 1, 2016.

As it stands, here are the squads for each club:

Adelaide Strikers

The Strikers have landed a major name for WBBL|02, signing former England captain - and one of the greatest cricketers of all time - Charlotte Edwards.

Edwards played for the Scorchers in WBBL|01 but crosses to Adelaide Oval for the second edition.

Her credentials are unrivalled; having made her debut against New Zealand in 1996 as a 16-year-old, she went on to represent England in 23 Tests, 191 ODIs and 95 T20Is to become the most capped international female cricketer in the history of the game.

“I’m really excited about this opportunity with the Strikers, especially with the growth of women’s cricket in Australia at an all-time high,” Edwards said.

“The WBBL has gone from strength to strength and to have 10,000 fans watching last New Year’s Eve was incredible.

Adelaide have also announced the re-signings of Southern Stars fast bowler Megan Schutt along with Alex Price, Bridget Patterson and Tahlia McGrath.

Image Id: ~/media/BC553D93225F43488BFFF5118B200491

Sharp Schutt-er // Getty

In: Charlotte Edwards (Scorchers)

Out: Lauren Ebsary (Scorchers)

Retained: Megan Schutt, Alex Price, Bridget Patterson and Tahlia McGrath

Brisbane Heat

Two Heat have landed two huge international signings for WBBL|02 in West Indies allrounder Deandra Dottin and rising India star Smriti Mandhana.

Dottin, a key member of the Windies team that won the World T20 earlier this year, joins Brisbane after a brief stint with the Scorchers last summer.

The 25-year-old self-proclaimed "World Boss" was the first woman to hit a T20 International century, belting a remarkable ton off just 38 balls in 2010 against South Africa.

Top-order batter Mandhana attracted attention last summer for the ODI century the then-19-year-old scored against Australia in Hobart, scoring 104 from 109 against an attack that featured Heat stars Jess Jonassen and Holly Ferling.

A century for teen Mandhana

 "I am looking forward very much to working with the Australian girls in the Heat squad after playing against them last season," Mandhana said.

"That was a good series, and I noticed there was a definite difference between their preparation and our preparation so I am keen to learn from the differences. Things like fitness and how they train for a series like the WBBL and the way they work on their fielding are areas I am interested in."

The Heat have also recruited Queensland bowler Kara Sutherland, who played for the Sixers in WBBL|01, and re-signed Southern Stars Jessica Jonassen, Holly Ferling and Beth Mooney.

However the Heat will be without Australian allrounder Grace Harris, who has moved south to join the Renegades, and Ash Barty, who has returned to tennis after her foray into cricket last summer. 

In: Deandra Dottin (West Indies, Scorchers), Smriti Mandhana (India). Kara Sutherland (Sixers)

Out: Grace Harris (Renegades), Ash Barty

Retained: Jess Jonassen, Beth Mooney, Holly Ferling, Delissa Kimmince, Jemma Barsby, Courtney Hill

Hobart Hurricanes

WBBL|01 semi-finalists Hobart have retained the bulk of their squad for the second edition of the tournament, with England captain Heather Knight returned to lead the Hurricanes.

Key internationals Hayley Matthews and Amy Satterthwaite will also return.

Hurricanes re-sign West Indian teen

Hobart Hurricanes Coach Julia Price said the squad was now almost complete.

 

"Amy and Hayley both offer diversity to our batting line-up, spin options to our bowling attack and extensive experience in the field," Price said.

 

"Their off-field contributions last year were crucial to the success of the Hurricanes and we will be looking to them to again support Heather Knight as leaders in the squad."

Georgia Redmayne the sole new face to date, while the Hurricanes have one local slots left to confirm.

In: Georgia Redmayne

Out: TBA

Retained: Julie Hunter, Veronica Pyke, Heather Knight (OS), Erin Burns, Corinne Hall, Emma Thompson, Brooke Hepburn, Katelyn Fryett, Hayley Matthews (West Indies), Meg Phillips, Sasha Moloney, Celeste Raack, Amy Satterthwaite (New Zealand)

Melbourne Renegades

The Renegades have boosted their WBBL squad with the signing of Southern Stars allrounder Grace Harris.

The 23-year old big-hitter from Brisbane broke into the national side during the 2015 Ashes Series and has represented her state from Under-15s level onwards.

Harris powers her way to first WBBL ton

"I'm really looking forward to coming down to Melbourne for WBBL|02 and getting on red with the Renegades," Harris said.

"Even though I grew up in Brisbane, Melbourne's always been recognised as the sporting capital of Australia so I can't wait to experience that. The Renegades had the biggest WBBL crowd for a match last season and it's a great opportunity to play in a team with that level of support.

"Obviously the chance to play double-headers at Etihad Stadium is something I'm really looking forward to. The first season was such a big success and we can't wait to get underway."

Harris made headlines last season blasting the league's first century with 103 runs from just 55 balls.

In: Grace Harris (Heat)

Out: TBA

Retained: TBA

Melbourne Stars

The Melbourne Stars have won the race for the prized signature of former Australian batter Jess Cameron for the second season of the WBBL, while skipper Meg Lanning has re-signed.

Image Id: ~/media/85EC7C6B2ADA45D7B48450A10C0CC035 Image Caption: Lanning, Kearney and Cameron // Melbourne Stars

Cameron took an indefinite break from cricket last October and declared herself unavailable for national selection, also opting out of the inaugural WBBL with Perth Scorchers, but has decided to return to the state cricket scene this summer.

Fellow international Kristen Beams has also committed to the club alongside fellow tweaker Alana King and ACT opener Katie Mack, the Stars’ second-highest run-scorer in WBBL|01.

In: Jess Cameron

Out: TBA

Retained: Kristen Beams, Emma Kearney, Meg Lanning, Alana King, Katie Mack

Perth Scorchers

The Scorchers have wasted no time confirming their biggest stars will return for WBBL|02, with skipper Nicole Bolton, fellow Southern Star Elyse Villani and New Zealand skipper Suzie Bates all signed.

Image Id: ~/media/E7883EB8B39D4DC58C21C9EE056305A0 Image Caption: Suzie Bates and Nicole Bolton

Perth have also added the experience of former South Australia captain Lauren Ebsary to the mix, while Hockeyroo Mathilda Carmichael's foray into cricket will see her pad up in orange this summer.

In: Mathilda Carmichael, Lauren Ebsary (Strikers)

Out: Nicky Shaw, Jenny Wallace (both retired), Deandra Dottin (Heat), Charlotte Edwards (Strikers)

Retained: Megan Banting, Suzie Bates (OS), Emma Biss, Nicole Bolton, Piepa Cleary, Heather Graham, Katie Hartshorn, Emma King, Chloe Piparo, Elyse Villani

Sydney Sixers

The Sixers have unveiled their first new signing for WBBL|02, with promising youngster Haylee Hoffmeister joining the squad.

Hoffmeister, 18, has represented NSW in Under 18s and toured India earlier this year with the first ever Indigenous women’s national team.

A right arm medium-fast bowler, her addition compliments an already strong attack including recently signed Emily Leys.

"Haylee is a young fast bowler who shows a lot of promise,” Sixers coach Ben Sawyer said.

"Haylee is one of the fastest bowlers in NSW and is keen to ask questions and learn more about her craft. Both these qualities will undoubtedly mean that she will play an important role in our squad this season."

The Sixers have also re-signed Shooting Stars squad member and national Indigenous women's team captain Ashleigh Gardner, and Australian legend Lisa Sthalekar.

Sydney WBBL teams hit Dubai

In: Haylee Hoffmeister 

Out: TBA

Retained: Emily Leys, Ashley Gardner, Lisa Sthalekar 

Sydney Thunder

The reigning champions have already struck some major blows ahead of WBBL|02, winning the prized signature of India vice-captain Harmanpreet Kaur and re-signing West Indies skipper Stafanie Taylor.

Harmanpreet is the first Indian to play in the WBBL and will only strengthen the already impressive Thunder roster, while Taylor starred in the Thunder's victory last summer as well as the West Indies triumphant ICC World T20 campaign earlier this year.

"It’s good to be back in the green, I enjoyed my first season, I had a good time (and) I think the competition was really good," Taylor said.

"(Australia) is one of my favourite places to play. I think the competition is really competitive, playing with world-renowned players. It’s a good standard."

Matthews, Taylor launch Windies to WT20 title

The Thunder also look set to keep the bulk of their championship-winning squad together for the upcoming season and have announced the re-signings of Australian representatives Alex Blackwell, Lauren Cheatle, Rene Farrell, Erin Osborne and Naomi Stalenberg, alongside World T20 squad member Nicola Carey.

In: Harmanpreet Kaur

Out: TBA

Retained: Alex Blackwell, Rene Farrell, Erin Osborne, Lauren Cheatle, Nicola Carey, Naomi Stalenberg, Stafanie Taylor (West Indies)