England and New Zealand's five-match Twenty20 International series is set to start in Dunedin on March 19, with the WPL planned to run from February 23 to March 17.
Digital Desk: The captain of England and all-rounder for Royal Challengers Bangalore, Heather Knight, has decided not to play in the forthcoming Women's Premier League (WPL) 2024 season. Her successor, Nadine de Klerk, an all-rounder from South Africa, has been announced by the team.
Since Lauren Bell chose to forego playing for the UP Warriorz in favor of England's bilateral series versus New Zealand, Knight is the second English player to pull out of the competition. Sadly, it's anticipated that the series will conclude during the WPL season.
England and New Zealand's five-match Twenty20 International series is set to start in Dunedin on March 19, with the WPL planned to run from February 23 to March 17.
The first game of the series would have to be missed by players who advance to the WPL final. The players were given a choice between playing in the WPL and the bilateral series with New Zealand, as reported by ESPNcricinfo, by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). To not be selected for the New Zealand series would be to choose the WPL.
The expectation was always that Knight, as captain, would put his country's needs ahead of the T20 competition. Preparing for the series was Bell's primary priority, as she stated in an Instagram post. Legendary Sri Lankan Chamari Athapaththu was called in by Warriorz on Friday to take her spot.
They are joined in the WPL by Alice Capsey (Delhi Capitals), Issy Wong, Nat Sciver-Brunt (Mumbai Indians), Kate Cross (Royal Challengers Bangalore), Sophie Ecclestone, and Danni Wyatt (UP Warriorz).
Nadine de Klerk, a 24-year-old, is one of the most promising talents in international cricket. She received a selection for the 2023 ICC Women's ODI Team of the Year. She has an average of 22.91 and 35 wickets as a right-handed pace bowler from 46 Twenty20 Internationals. She also has 419 runs at a strike rate of 98.35, making her a formidable hitter in the lower order.
Despite her experience, Knight struggled with form in the Women's Big Bash League last year. It seems that de Klerk might just be the next big thing for RCB in the WPL.
Leave A Comment