WPL | Five overseas picks who can fetch big bucks

It was a revolutionary moment in men’s cricket when the first IPL fixture was played on 18 April 2008 as the sport progressed in terms of popularity and finances after that. However, women’s cricket was still living in exile and the Indian women’s cricket team had played only one T20I by then. Only a few of the names in women’s cricket were popular amongst cricket fans and the sport was struggling in the aspect of getting recognition from the masses. The sport lacked facilities and on top of that, there were significantly less number of games as compared to their male counterparts. 

Ellyse Perry

There is no doubt that Ellyse Perry is one of the best all-rounders in the current era with her ability to be consistent with the bat in the middle order and scalp key wickets with the ball in hand. Her T20I career is a testament to her excellence as she has scored 1475 runs from 80 T20I innings with an average of 31.38 and a strike rate of 110.81. However, her impact is not limited to the batting the pacer has been effective with the ball as well. 

She has also picked 119 wickets registering both an average and strike rate below 20. Apart from international cricket, her overall T20 records are brilliant showing dominance with bat and bowling some magical spells. Perry has scored 6276 runs with an average of 41.29 and has picked 225 wickets with an economy of 6.10 from 316 matches. 

Her current form also tilts the odds in favour of the possibility of her being one of the most expensive buys in the auction. She has been the highest run-getter in the ongoing ODI domestic tournament with 435 runs across six innings with an average of 108.75.  The Australian all-rounder has set her base price at a price of INR 50 Lakhs and considering her capabilities with the bat and ball, the franchises might break the bank to recruit her services. 

Sophie Devine

Sophie Devine is one of the highly valued players in women’s cricket with her brilliant batting while opening the innings and dismissing batters with medium-pace bowling. After starting as a bowler, Devine has developed into one of the leading all-rounders of the game. Her career transformed after promotion to the opening slot and her feat of scoring six fifty-plus scores in the T20I cricket in 2020 was one of the most glorious moments in the sport. 

Her career record highlights her marquee status as she has racked up 2950 runs in international cricket with an average of 29.79 and a strike rate of 122. Further her bowling prowess is evident from the tally of 110 wickets from 115 matches with a strike rate of 16.5 and a bowling average of 17.45. 

Devine would be the best option for the teams who are looking for an opener who can bowl his full quota and so the all-rounder might cost the teams a pretty penny. 

Ashleigh Gardner

Ashleigh Gardner was in supreme form when Australia toured India in December last year, scoring 115 runs from three innings with an average of 57.50 and a strike rate of 166.66. Her contribution with the ball taking seven wickets from five innings with an economy of 7.11 capped off a superb performance. Further, she has always performed in Indian conditions which makes her a utility pick for the bidding process. The Indian pitches will offer some help for a spin and it further strengthens her case to be preferred by the teams.   

Gardner has scored 208 runs across six innings in India averaging 34.66 and smashing the ball with a strike rate of 169.10. Her bowling has been equally impressive and the franchises would be vying for the cricketer who has a base price of INR 50 Lakhs. Gardener has scalped 13 wickets from 10 innings with an economy of 7.13 and she would like to dismiss some of the premier batters around the world in the inaugural season of the WPL. 

Beth Mooney 

The 29-year-old was in red-hot form last year scoring runs in the Commonwealth games. She amassed 449 runs from 13 innings with a brilliant average of 56.12 and a strike rate of 134.43 in 2023. Mooney has a price tag of  INR 40 Lakhs and the teams can go overboard to acquire her services while sitting at the auction table. She is expected to garner a handsome amount of sum for the first season of the WPL. 

Deandra Dottin

Although Deandra Dottin doesn’t play international cricket anymore, she has been one of the greats of the game. Along with batting in the top order, Dottin troubles opposition batters with her medium-fast bowling. Dottin has 2697 runs from 125 T20I innings with an average of 25.69 and a strike rate of 123.55. Also, she has scored two international centuries out of which one resulted in a record-breaking knock. Dottin has the fastest century to her name reaching a hundred from 38 balls against South Africa in 2010. 

Her performance in India further elaborates her dominance over the format, The all-rounder who was ranked at the top once in the ICC’s all-rounder rankings has 309 runs from 15 innings with an average of 23.77 and has struck the ball at 126.64.  Once the pillar of the Caribbean side, Dottin has been equally sensational with the ball taking 19 wickets from 15 matches with an economy of 6.42.