Travel restrictions force out Bates
FEARS of being “stranded” in Australia have cost the WBBL a star player.
New Zealand international and Adelaide Strikers captain Suzie Bates has withdrawn from the competition.
Travel restrictions between Australia and New Zealand have been significantly tightened, and the bubble closed, forcing Bates to make the “tough decision” not to come for the tournament which begins in Tasmania next month.
Super Netball star Geva Mentor had to rely on a private charter flight to get back to Australia after being stranded in New Zealand, where she went to link up with the England team.
Bates, who has played in every season of the WBBL, said that with a one-day World Cup in New Zealand next year, uncertainty around getting a flight home and quarantine restrictions, she couldn’t risk coming to Australia.
“Unfortunately, this season I had to make the tough decision to withdraw from the WBBL because of the current travel restrictions between Australia and New Zealand and the difficulty for New Zealanders overseas to travel back to New Zealand freely because of the limited availability and uncertainty around guaranteeing quarantine spots,” Bates said.
The Strikers acted quickly to sign a big-name replacement. South Africa skipper Dane van Niekerk will be joining the club.