MELBOURNE, Australia, CMC – West Indies captain Hayley Matthews will spend a third successive season with Melbourne Renegades after signing a one-year deal ahead of October’s start of the 10th edition of the Women’s Big Bash League.
The 26-year-old superstar all-rounder captained Renegades last season, scoring 255 runs with a strike rate of 114 and grabbing 14 wickets with her off-spin.
Hayley Matthews.
Renegades struggled, nevertheless, winning just two of their 14 league games to finish bottom of the table on four points.
“I’m super excited to be back with the girls. I’m confident I can play a massive role within the team, help put up some outstanding performances, and hopefully lead us to a finals series,” Matthews said.
“The main thing I can appreciate about this club is how they bring me in and make me feel welcome. I can step back into what feels like a massive family.
“We haven’t achieved what we’ve wanted in the last couple of years, but with some key members back and some new additions cooking up, I’m confident we can go out there and put it all together.”
She added: “One of the biggest things for me, after not having the best seasons with the Renegades in my first two years, is that I feel like I want to go out there and give the club a lot more.”
An elegant, attacking right-hander, Matthews scored 253 runs and took nine wickets in her first season with the Renegades. The franchise was knocked out in the final qualifier after finishing second in the regular season.
Matthews will be joined by former captain Sophie Molineux, who returns after being ruled out for the entire last season with an injury.
“It hampered us not having our full squad together for either of the two years I’ve been there … just having Sophie around the group again is going to be such a plus,” said Matthews, who replaced Molineaux as captain last season.
“I saw what she was able to do at the WPL (Women’s Premier League), the way she was able to go out there and express herself and just be free. We’re excited to have her back at the Renegades and hopefully do even better.”
Matthews was signed under the WBBL’s new multi-year, pre-draft contract provision, which allows franchises to sign one foreign player for up to three years outside of the draft.
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