Lizelle Lee signs two year deal with Hobart
Lizelle Lee will remain with the Hobart Hurricanes for at least two more seasons after signing a contract with the club ahead of the WBBL draft. Lee, who will permanently reside in Tasmania after retiring from international cricket in 2022-23, was the Hurricanes’ leading run-scorer last season, scoring 409 runs at an average of 37.18 and a strike rate of 146.07, including an unbeaten 101 against the Melbourne Renegades.
I think the team made some strong progress last season, and I’m looking forward to playing my role and natural game as we look to get Tasmania and the Hurricanes their first WBBL trophy,” Lee said. Cricket Tasmania general manager Sallyann Beams was excited by the prospect of Lee and Elyse Villani resuming their pairing at the top of the order.
Arguably the most experienced and talented opening pair in the WBBL
With her and Junior at the top of our order, I think we have arguably the most experienced and talented opening pair in the WBBL, she said.
They gave us a lot of versatility with our overseas pre-signings, and given that we had the number one pick in the WBBL Draft, it made sense for us to pre-sign someone we know can play that role for us.
She can change the game with the bat and in the field, having done so repeatedly in international cricket in South Africa and the WBBL. Hurricanes head coach Jude Coleman has previously indicated that they They will look to bring in another top four batsman during the draft. They also have the right to retain South African fast bowler Shabnim Ismail, who took 13 wickets last season. Role and playing natural game
I think the team has made some strong progress over the last season, and I’m looking forward to playing my role and natural game as we look to get Tasmania and the Hobart Hurricanes their first WBBL trophy,” Lee said in a statement from Hobart. In her 82-match WBBL career, Lee has scored 2066 runs at an average of 27.91 and is 16th on the tournament’s all-time run-scorers list.
With her and Junior [Elise Villani] at the top of our order, I think we have arguably the most experienced and talented opening pair in the WBBL, Cricket Tasmania general manager Sallyanne Beams said. She [Lee] gives us a lot of versatility with our overseas pre-signings, and given we had the number one pick in the WBBL Draft, it made sense for us to pre-sign someone who we know can play a role for us.
International for South Africa Cricket
She can change the game with the bat and in the field, having done so time and again in international cricket and the WBBL for South Africa. I love playing for the Hobart Hurricanes, and I am excited to return to Blundstone Arena for another season in Tasmania! I think the team has made some strong progress over the last season, and I am looking forward to playing my role and natural game as we look to get Tasmania and the Hurricanes their first WBBL trophy.
Joins Rachel Treneman and Elyse Villani
Lizelle joins Nicola Carey, Heather Graham, Ruth Johnston, Hayley Silver-Holmes, Amy Smith, Lauren Smith, Molly Strano, Rachel Treneman and Elyse Villani as Hurricanes players under contract ahead of WBBL season ten. Cricket Tasmania’s General Manager of High Performance, Sally Beams, said she was excited to see Lizelle play for two more years in the purple colours of Hobart.
Lizzie has been huge for us over the last few seasons, she has helped set the tone for our innings by giving us positive starts, and with her and Junior at the top of our order, I think we have the most experienced and talented opening pair in the WBBL.
Gives us a lot of versatility with overseas pre-signings
She gives us a lot of versatility with our overseas pre-signings, and given that we had the number one pick in the WBBL Draft, it made sense for us to pre-sign someone who we know can play that role for us.
She can change the game with the bat and in the field, she has done so repeatedly in international cricket for South Africa and the WBBL, which made her an excellent choice as our overseas pre-signing,” he explained.
Conclusion
The Hobart Hurricanes have extended their contract with former South Africa opener Lizelle Lee by adding her as a pre-draft overseas player on a two-year contract.
Lee, who moves permanently to Tasmania in 2022 after her sudden international retirement, made her debut for the Hurricanes in WBBL 2022. The wicketkeeper-batter was the club’s leading run-scorer in the previous edition with 409 runs at an average of 37.18 and a strike-rate of 146.07. This included her third WBBL century, an unbeaten 101 against the Melbourne Renegades at home.
