Perth Scorchers (WBBL) explained

Perth Scorchers (WBBL)
League:	Women's Big Bash League
City:	Perth
Colours:	Orange
Ground:	WACA Ground
Ground2:	Lilac Hill Park
Captain:	Sophie Devine
Coach:	Shelley Nitschke
Title1:	WBBL
Title1wins:	1 (2021–22)
Current:	Current season

The Perth Scorchers (WBBL) are an Australian women's Twenty20 cricket team based in East Perth, Western Australia. They compete in the Women's Big Bash League, and won their first championship in WBBL07.

History

Formation

One of eight founding WBBL teams, the Perth Scorchers are aligned with the men's team of the same name.^[1] On 9 May 2015, the WACA announced Mark Atkinson as the Scorchers' inaugural coach.^[2] At the official WBBL launch on 10 July, Jess Cameron was unveiled as the team's first-ever player signing.^[3] Nicole Bolton was appointed as Perth's inaugural captain.^[4]

The Scorchers faced almost immediate turmoil, however, with Cameron taking an indefinite break from cricket in October (she would return to the league the following season, albeit with the Melbourne Stars).^{[5] [6] [7]} Then, days before the beginning of WBBL|01, Atkinson was replaced in the head coaching role by Lisa Keightley.^[8] Despite these unexpected obstacles, the team rallied in their first match on 11 December at Aquinas College to defeat the Brisbane Heat by two runs.^[9]

Rivalries

Sydney Thunder

The Scorchers and Sydney Thunder have met in two semi-finals:

• 21 January 2016, Adelaide Oval: Defending a total of 6/118, the Thunder restricted the Scorchers to 9/110 and claimed victory by eight runs. The Thunder would go on to win the inaugural WBBL championship.^{[10] [11]}
• 1 February 2018, Perth Stadium: In the first innings, the Scorchers posted a total of 2/148. The Thunder were reeling by the 11th over of the run chase, having lost five wickets for just 46 runs. Fran Wilson piled on 46 runs from 28 balls late in the match but Perth, led by Emma King's 3/17, easily defended the target to win by 27 runs.^[12]

A scheduling quirk, the two teams did not meet in the Thunder's home state of New South Wales until WBBL|06 when the entire tournament was played in Sydney due to the COVID-19 pandemic. From 2017 to 2018, five of their regular season encounters were played at Lilac Hill Park and characterised by close finishes, including:

• 7 January 2018: The Scorchers were well poised to chase down their target of 146 until a catch on the boundary by Thunder fielder Lisa Griffith dismissed Nicole Bolton for 71 in the 18th over. On the last ball of the match, Scorchers batter Mathilda Carmichael was run out by a metre while attempting a game-tying run, therefore securing victory for the Thunder by the narrowest of margins.^{[13] [14]}
• 29 December 2018: The Thunder were catapulted to a score of 5/179 by a late 49-run partnership between Harmanpreet Kaur and Stafanie Taylor (which included 21 runs off the 18th over against the bowling of Taneale Peschel, who had taken 1/12 in her first three overs). Eight overs into the second innings, captain Meg Lanning had scored 71 of the Scorchers' 83 runs. Although Lanning was run out for 76 in the tenth over, Elyse Villani went on to score 66 not out, guiding the Scorchers to a six-wicket victory with one ball remaining. In doing so, the Scorchers set a new WBBL record for highest successful run chase.^[15]

Sydney Sixers

The Sydney Sixers have met, and defeated, the Scorchers in two championship deciders:

• 28 January 2017, WACA Ground: With Sydney captain Ellyse Perry sidelined due to a hamstring injury, the Sixers posted a modest total of 5/124 in the first innings. An unbeaten knock of 35 from 30 balls by Katherine Brunt was not enough to secure victory for the Scorchers, as the Sixers "fielded like demons and bowled dry"^[16] in a "veritable classic" to win by a narrow seven-run margin and claim their maiden title. Sarah Aley earned Player of the Final honours for her bowling figures of 4/23 off four overs.^[17]
• 4 February 2018, Adelaide Oval: Electing to bat first, the Scorchers were steamrolled for 99 all out. The Sixers experienced little difficulty in the run chase, mowing down the required target with nine wickets in hand and 30 balls remaining to claim a second consecutive WBBL title. Sarah Coyte earned Player of the Final honours for her bowling figures of 3/17 off four overs.^[18]

Brisbane Heat

Noteworthy matches between the Scorchers and the Brisbane Heat include:

• 11 December 2015, Aquinas College: The Scorchers, in their first-ever game, successfully defended a total of just 9/106 by bowling out the Heat for 104. Katherine Brunt finished with bowling figures of 4/17 and was also credited for the run out of Holly Ferling on the last ball of the match, securing a two-run victory for the Scorchers.
• 24 January 2017, WACA Ground: In the WBBL|02 semi-finals, Perth chased down the target of 125 with 26 balls remaining. In what was a thumping defeat, the only wicket Brisbane managed to take was that of Elyse Villani, for 52, via run out.^{[19] [20]}
• 26 December 2018, Perth Stadium: Played as a double-header after a men's match in front of a reported crowd of 14,983 spectators (setting a new attendance record for a WBBL game in Western Australia),^[21] the Scorchers' total of 5/136 was chased down by the Heat with five wickets in hand and four balls remaining.^[22]

Adelaide Strikers

In the league's early years, the Scorchers and Adelaide Strikers experienced several instances of senior members switching allegiances:

• Inaugural Strikers captain Lauren Ebsary joined the Scorchers after just one season.^{[23] [24]}
• Former Scorchers captain Suzie Bates moved to the Strikers ahead of WBBL|03 and became the first player to lead two WBBL clubs.^{[25] [26]}
• After scoring the most runs for Perth throughout WBBL|01, Charlotte Edwards transferred to Adelaide in her final year of cricket.^[27] The following season, Edwards assumed an assistant coaching role for the Strikers.^[28]
• Ahead of WBBL|06, former Adelaide all-rounder Shelley Nitschke was appointed to the position of head coach for the Scorchers.^{[29] [30]}

Noteworthy matches between the two teams include:

• 13 January 2018, Traeger Park: In a match reduced to 16 overs per side due to a rain delay, the Scorchers could only muster a first innings score of 9/87. In the run chase, Suzie Bates played a lone hand of 49 not out to help the Strikers win by six wickets with one ball to spare.^[31]
• 9 November 2019, Karen Rolton Oval: An innings of 80 runs from 58 deliveries by Amy Jones helped Perth post a total of 3/173. Despite a slow start to the run chase, Adelaide finished strongly with Bridget Patterson scoring 60 off 32 balls. However, Heather Graham conceded just a single off the final ball to give the Scorchers a two-run win.^[32]
• 7 December 2019, Allan Border Field: In the WBBL|05 semi-finals, the Strikers comfortably reached the required total of 127 with eight wickets in hand and eleven balls remaining to eliminate the Scorchers from the tournament.^[33]

Captaincy records

There have been six captains in the Scorchers' history, including matches featuring an acting captain.

Captain	Span		Won	Lost	Tied
Nicole Bolton	2015–2016	150	7	8	0	0	46.67
Suzie Bates	2016–2017	16	9	7	0	0	56.25
Elyse Villani	2017–2018	21	11	10	0	0	52.38
Meg Lanning	2018–2019	24	14	10	0	0	58.33
Sophie Devine	2020–present	40	22	15	0	3	59.46
Beth Mooney	2020	2	0	2	0	0	0.00

Source:^[34]

Season summaries

Season			Finals	Coach	Captain	Most Runs	Most Wickets		Refs
2015–16	7–7	4th	SF				Brunt, Shaw – 16	Katherine Brunt	^[35] ^[36] ^[37]
2016–17	8–6	2nd	RU	Lisa Keightley	Suzie Bates	Elyse Villani – 442	Emma King – 17	Katherine Brunt	^[38] ^[39] ^[40]
2017–18	8–6	3rd	RU	Lisa Keightley	Elyse Villani	Elyse Villani – 535	Katherine Brunt – 23*	Katherine Brunt	^[41] ^[42] ^[43]
2018–19		5th	DNQ	Lisa Keightley		Elyse Villani – 403		Heather Graham	^[44] ^[45] ^[46]
		3rd	SF	Lisa Keightley	Meg Lanning	Meg Lanning – 531	Heather Graham – 15	Nat Sciver	^[47] ^[48] ^[49]
		4th	SF			Beth Mooney – 551*	Sarah Glenn – 17	Beth Mooney	^[50] ^[51] ^[52]
		1st*	C	Shelley Nitschke	nowrap	Sophie Devine	Beth Mooney – 547*	Heather Graham – 18	Sophie Devine	^[53] ^[54] ^[55]
	6–7	5th	DNQ	Shelley Nitschke	nowrap	Sophie Devine	Beth Mooney – 434*	Alana King – 17	Marizanne Kapp	^[56] ^[57] ^[58]

Legend

DNQ	Did not qualify	SF	Semi-finalists		Led the league
EF	Lost the Eliminator	RU	Runners-up	^	League record
CF	Lost the Challenger	C	Champions

Home grounds

Venue	Games hosted by season
01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	Total
Aquinas College	2	–	–	–	–	N/A	–	–	2
Lilac Hill Park	–	3	3	3	4		2	3	18
Perth Stadium	–	–	1	1	–		1	–	3
WACA Ground	5	5	4	2	3		3	3	25

Players

Australian representatives

The following is a list of cricketers who have played for the Scorchers after making their debut in the national women's team (the period they spent as both a Scorchers squad member and an Australian-capped player is in brackets):

Overseas marquees

The following is a list of cricketers who have played for the Scorchers as overseas marquees:

Associate rookies

Statistics and awards

Team stats

• • Champions: 1 – WBBL07 Runners-up: 2 – WBBL02, WBBL03
• Minor premiers

1 – WBBL|07

• Win–loss record:

Opposition		Won	Lost	Tied
Adelaide Strikers	18	7	10	0	1	41.18
Brisbane Heat	17	7	10	0	0	41.18
Hobart Hurricanes	15	10	4	0	1	71.43
Melbourne Renegades	15	10	5	0	0	66.67
Melbourne Stars	17	10	7	0	0	58.82
Sydney Sixers	18	9	9	0	0	50.00
Sydney Thunder	18	10	7	0	1	58.82
Total	118	63	52	0	3	54.78

• Highest score in an innings: 2/194 (20 overs) vs Melbourne Renegades, 3 November 2021
• Highest successful chase: 4/180 (19.5 overs) vs Sydney Thunder, 29 December 2018
• Lowest successful defence: 9/106 (20 overs) vs Brisbane Heat, 11 December 2015
• Largest victory:
  • Batting first: 104 runs vs Melbourne Renegades, 12 November 2022
  • Batting second: 55 balls remaining vs Melbourne Stars, 10 November 2021
• Longest winning streak: 7 matches (17 November 2021 – 20 October 2022)
• Longest losing streak: 4 matches

Source:^[59]

Individual stats

• Most runs: Elyse Villani – 1,706
• Highest score in an innings: Sophie Devine – 103 (68) vs Sydney Sixers, 8 November 2020
• Highest partnership: Sophie Devine and Beth Mooney – 173 vs Sydney Thunder, 24 October 2021
• Most wickets: Heather Graham – 102
• Best bowling figures in an innings: Marizanne Kapp – 4/10 (4 overs) vs Hobart Hurricanes, 7 November 2021
• Hat-tricks taken: Nicole Bolton vs Hobart Hurricanes, 19 December 2015^{[60] [61]}
• Most catches (fielder): Heather Graham – 35
• Most dismissals (wicket-keeper): Beth Mooney – 20 (15 catches, 5 stumpings)

Source:

Individual awards

• Player of the Match:
  • Elyse Villani – 10
  • Sophie Devine – 8
  • Beth Mooney – 7
  • Heather Graham – 6
  • Nicole Bolton, Meg Lanning – 5 each
  • Katherine Brunt, Charlotte Edwards, Amy Jones – 4 each
  • Nat Sciver – 3
  • Marizanne Kapp, Alana King, Emma King – 2 each
  • Amy Edgar, Maddy Green, Katie-Jane Hartshorn – 1 each
• WBBL Player of the Tournament: Sophie Devine – WBBL06
• WBBL Player of the Final: Marizanne Kapp – WBBL07
• WBBL Team of the Tournament:
  • Beth Mooney (3) – WBBL06, WBBL07, WBBL08
  • Katherine Brunt (2) – WBBL02, WBBL03
  • Sophie Devine (2) – WBBL|06, WBBL|07
  • Meg Lanning (2) – WBBL04, WBBL05
  • Nicole Bolton – WBBL|03
  • Charlotte Edwards – WBBL01
  • Heather Graham – WBBL|04
  • Taneale Peschel – WBBL|06
  • Elyse Villani – WBBL|03

Sponsors

Year	Kit Manufacturer	Chest Sponsor	Back Sponsor	Breast Sponsor	Sleeve Sponsor
2015–16	Majestic	Rebel	Alcohol. Think Again	Alcohol. Think Again	Rebel
2016–17			Kleenheat	Kleenheat
2017–18
2018–19		Kleenheat		Holman
2019–20			Canon Foods	Canon Foods	Peet
2020–21		REIWA
2021–22	Nike	Peet	PEP Transport	Budget Direct	PEP Transport

See also

• Cricket in Western Australia
• Western Australian Cricket Association
• Western Fury

Notes and References

1. Web site: Eight teams announced for Women's BBL. 10 December 2016.
2. Web site: Atkinson named Fury, Scorchers WBBL coach. cricket.com.au. en. 2020-05-12.
3. Web site: Cameron Launches Scorchers WBBL. Perth Scorchers. en. 2020-05-12.
4. Web site: Scorchers name skipper, major signing. 10 December 2016.
5. Web site: Jess Cameron to take indefinite break from cricket ESPNcricinfo.com . 2020-05-12 . www.espncricinfo.com . en.
6. Web site: Cameron confirms return to cricket. cricket.com.au. en. 2020-05-12.
7. Web site: Stars sign Cameron, Lanning for WBBL02. cricket.com.au. en. 2020-05-12.
8. News: Townsend. John. 3 December 2015. Keightley takes over as women's mentor. The West Australian. 19 December 2016.
9. Web site: Full Scorecard of Perth Scorchers Women vs Brisbane Heat Women 4th Match 2015 - Score Report ESPNcricinfo.com. www.espncricinfo.com. en. 2020-05-12.
10. Web site: Full Scorecard of Sydney Thunder Women vs Perth Scorchers Women 1st Semi-Final 2016 - Score Report ESPNcricinfo.com. www.espncricinfo.com. en. 2020-05-12.
11. Web site: Rookies punch above their weight in Thunders' triumph ESPNcricinfo.com. www.espncricinfo.com. en. 2020-05-12.
12. Web site: Recent Match Report - Perth Scorchers Women vs Sydney Thunder Women 1st Semi-Final 2018 ESPNcricinfo.com. www.espncricinfo.com. en. 2020-05-12.
13. Web site: Full Scorecard of Sydney Thunder Women vs Perth Scorchers Women 29th Match 2018 - Score Report ESPNcricinfo.com. www.espncricinfo.com. en. 2020-05-12.
14. Web site: Scorchers stun Thunder at WACA. cricket.com.au. en. 2020-05-12.
15. Web site: Scorchers Create History in Thrilling Win. Perth Scorchers. en. 2020-05-12.
16. Web site: Recent Match Report - Perth Scorchers Women vs Sydney Sixers Women, Women's Big Bash League, Final ESPNcricinfo.com. ESPNcricinfo. en. 2020-04-26.
17. Web site: Sixers crowned WBBL02 champions. cricket.com.au. en. 2020-04-26.
18. Web site: Recent Match Report - Sydney Sixers Women vs Perth Scorchers Women, Women's Big Bash League, Final ESPNcricinfo.com. ESPNcricinfo. en. 2020-04-26.
19. Web site: King emerges to rule for Scorchers. cricket.com.au. en. 2020-05-12.
20. Web site: Recent Match Report - Brisbane Heat Women vs Perth Scorchers Women 1st Semi-Final 2017 ESPNcricinfo.com. www.espncricinfo.com. en. 2020-05-12.
21. Web site: Thrilling finals cap off successful WBBL04. cricket.com.au. en. 2020-05-12.
22. Web site: Jonassen guides Heat to thrilling win. cricket.com.au. en. 2020-05-12.
23. Web site: WBBL: All you need to know. cricket.com.au. en. 2020-05-12.
24. Web site: Ebsary Calls Stumps On WBBL Career. Perth Scorchers. en. 2020-05-12.
25. Web site: Scorchers star defects to Strikers. cricket.com.au. en. 2020-05-12.
26. Web site: NZ captain to lead Strikers in WBBL03. cricket.com.au. en. 2020-05-12.
27. Web site: England star Edwards joins Strikers WBBL. SBS News. en. 2020-05-12.
28. Web site: Edwards to return to Adelaide in coaching role. Adelaide Strikers. en. 2020-05-12.
29. Web site: Strikers lure Nitschke out of retirement for WBBL. Adelaide Strikers. en. 2020-05-12.
30. Web site: Nitschke To Lead Scorchers Women Next Season. Perth Scorchers. en. 2020-05-12.
31. Web site: Strikers' pressure beats Scorchers. cricket.com.au. en. 2020-05-12.
32. Web site: Scorchers win last-ball thriller over Strikers. 2019-11-09. The West Australian. en. 2020-05-12.
33. Web site: Strikers storm to WBBL Final. Adelaide Strikers. en. 2020-05-12.
34. Web site: Women's Big Bash League - Perth Scorchers Women Cricket Team Records & Stats ESPNcricinfo.com. 2021-08-23. Cricinfo.
35. Web site: Women's Big Bash League, 2015/16 Cricket Team Records & Stats ESPNcricinfo.com. Cricinfo. 2019-10-21.
36. Web site: Women's Big Bash League, 2015/16 Cricket Team Records & Stats ESPNcricinfo.com. Cricinfo. 2019-10-21.
37. Web site: Bancroft, Bolton Take Top Honours For WA Cricket. waca.com.au. en. 2020-05-04.
38. Web site: Women's Big Bash League, 2016/17 Cricket Team Records & Stats ESPNcricinfo.com. Cricinfo. 2019-10-21.
39. Web site: Women's Big Bash League, 2016/17 Cricket Team Records & Stats ESPNcricinfo.com. Cricinfo. 2019-10-21.
40. Web site: WA Cricket's Next Generation Takes Top Honours. waca.com.au. en. 2020-05-04.
41. Web site: Women's Big Bash League, 2017/18 Cricket Team Records & Stats ESPNcricinfo.com. Cricinfo. 2019-10-21.
42. Web site: Women's Big Bash League, 2017/18 Cricket Team Records & Stats ESPNcricinfo.com. Cricinfo. 2019-10-21.
43. Web site: Brilliant Brunt, Affable Agar Take Scorchers Gongs. Perth Scorchers. en. 2020-05-04.
44. Web site: Women's Big Bash League, 2018/19 Cricket Team Records & Stats ESPNcricinfo.com. Cricinfo. 2019-10-21.
45. Web site: Women's Big Bash League, 2018/19 Cricket Team Records & Stats ESPNcricinfo.com. Cricinfo. 2019-10-21.
46. Web site: Graham, Turner Named Players Of The Year. Perth Scorchers. en. 2020-05-04.
47. Web site: Women's Big Bash League, 2019/20 Cricket Team Records & Stats ESPNcricinfo.com. Cricinfo. 2019-12-09.
48. Web site: Women's Big Bash League, 2019/20 Cricket Team Records & Stats ESPNcricinfo.com. Cricinfo. 2019-12-09.
49. Web site: Richardson, Sciver Claim Top Gongs. Perth Scorchers. en. 2020-05-04.
50. Web site: Women's Big Bash League, 2020/21 Cricket Team Records & Stats ESPNcricinfo.com. 2020-12-01. Cricinfo.
51. Web site: Women's Big Bash League, 2020/21 Cricket Team Records & Stats ESPNcricinfo.com. 2020-12-01. Cricinfo.
52. Web site: Bolton, Green Take Top Honours For WA Cricket. 2021-04-21. waca.com.au. en.
53. Web site: Women's Big Bash League, 2021/22 Cricket Team Records & Stats ESPNcricinfo.com. 2021-11-27. Cricinfo.
54. Web site: Women's Big Bash League, 2021/22 Cricket Team Records & Stats ESPNcricinfo.com. 2021-11-27. Cricinfo.
55. Web site: WA Cricket Awards: Edgar, Cartwright receive top honours . 2022-04-08 . wacricket.com.au . en.
56. Web site: Women's Big Bash League, 2022/23 Cricket Team Records & Stats ESPNcricinfo.com . 2022-11-20 . Cricinfo.
57. Web site: Women's Big Bash League, 2022/23 Cricket Team Records & Stats ESPNcricinfo.com . 2022-11-20 . Cricinfo.
58. Web site: Bancroft, Piparo Take Top Honours . 2023-04-02 . wacricket.com.au . en.
59. Web site: Women's Big Bash League - Perth Scorchers Women Cricket Team Records & Stats ESPNcricinfo.com. Cricinfo. 2020-05-09.
60. Web site: Top 5 Moments Of WBBL01. Perth Scorchers. en. 2019-12-04.
61. Web site: Get Ball by Ball Commentary of Hobart Hurricanes Women vs Perth Scorchers Women, Women's Big Bash League, 16th Match ESPNcricinfo.com. ESPNcricinfo. en. 2019-12-04.