Another dash of English flavour

WITH a ringing endorsement from former skipper Heather Knight, the Hobart Hurricanes have signed English batter Lauren Winfield for WBBL03.

Knight, who is also English captain, is being managed during the current Ashes series but has been ruled out of this season’s Big Bash by the English and Wales Cricket Board with a foot injury.

It continues the English flavour for the Hurricanes for the summer ahead, with Winfield joining men’s imports Tymal Mills and Tom Curran in purple.

Winfield, 27, has played two Tests, 35 one-dayers and 18 T20 internationals for England, averaging almost 24 in the shortest format with a strike rate of 113.

Winfield said she enjoyed playing in Australia, where conditions are generally more friendly for batters than they are back in England.

“The conditions in Australia are very different to England – the ball doesn’t tend to move laterally as much and as a batter that’s something I’m really looking forward to,” she said.

Hurricanes WBBL coach Julia Price said Winfield would be a welcome addition to the line-up.

“She was very keen and really excited when we approached her and she got a great endorsement from Heather Knight which was good enough for us,” she said.

“Lauren will bat in the top three for us and she’s a terrific fielder as well.

“We’re really excited to see what she can provide for the Hurricanes in the T20 format.”

Knight will not be lost to the group though, as she will join the team for the first half of the competition as a mentor.

The Hurricanes still have a place for one more import, expected to be returning West Indian all-rounder Hayley Matthews.

WBBL|03 Squad: Emma Thompson, Erin Fazackerley, Brooke Hepburn, Georgia Redmayne, Veronica Pyke, Katelyn Fryett, Celeste Raack, Sasha Moloney, Veda Krishnamurthy, Lauren Winfield.