Lizelle Lee has officially re-signed with the Hobart Hurricanes for another two seasons in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), and cricket enthusiasts are understandably excited about it. Last summer, the Australian franchise had already secured her services through a two-year overseas pre-signing deal. But now, with her permanent residency status in Australia confirmed, she’s transitioned from being an overseas player to signing a fresh deal as a local player.
This shift not only benefits Lee but also enhances the Hurricanes’ roster, as they can now leverage her experience without compromising their overseas player quota. It’s a win-win for both parties.
Lee’s influence on the Hurricanes has been nothing short of remarkable. In the recent WBBL season—the tenth of its kind—she delivered a stunning performance that will be remembered for years. Scoring an unbeaten 150 runs off just 75 balls against the Perth Scorchers, Lee set the record for the highest individual score in WBBL history. But what’s more astonishing is that this innings included a jaw-dropping 12 boundaries, making it the most in a single match within the tournament. Just three days later, she backed it up with another stellar 103 runs against the Strikers, further cementing her status as a game-changer.
Over the course of the season, she amassed a total of 409 runs with an impressive strike rate of 146.07. Her performance didn’t just earn her personal accolades; it also secured her the title of Hobart Hurricanes WBBL Player of the Season and a spot in the WBBL Team of the Tournament, showcasing her as one of the brightest stars in women’s cricket.
Lee’s impact extends beyond the WBBL, as she has been a force in women’s cricket across various franchise leagues. In her WBBL career, she has scored a remarkable 2465 runs while playing for three different teams, and her statistics tell the story—five hundreds and 11 fifties at a strike rate of 131.32. After stepping back from international cricket in July 2022, Lee has fully embraced domestic and franchise cricket, confidently stating her desire to continue playing T20 leagues around the globe.
Notably, she retired as South Africa’s leading run-scorer in T20Is and the second-highest in ODIs. Over her international career, she played 100 ODIs and 82 T20Is, tallying 3,315 runs in ODIs and 1,896 in T20Is. Post-retirement, she has taken the franchise circuit by storm, shining brightly in both The Hundred and the WBBL.
Salliann Beams, Cricket Tasmania’s General Manager of High Performance, expressed her enthusiasm about Lee’s re-signing: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have Lizelle in purple for the next two seasons. Her contributions last season were crucial in our run to the WBBL Finals. Transitioning to a local player status not only offers us greater flexibility to enhance our squad but her outstanding performances—especially her consecutive hundreds—highlight her as one of the top batters in women’s T20 cricket.”
Looking ahead, Lee is expected to continue her pivotal role as an opener for the Hurricanes, collaborating with experienced players like Elyse Villani. Her newfound local player status reaffirms her dedication to the Hurricanes while also granting the team greater strategic flexibility in shaping their lineup.
As the WBBL season unfolds, cricket fans can eagerly anticipate what promises to be another exciting chapter in Lizelle Lee’s career, cheering her on as she takes the field not just as a player but as an integral part of the Hobart Hurricanes family.
Image Source: Lizelle Lee @ Instagram
