big number: Beth Mooney, the team captain, has been remarkably consistent, averaging 52.45 in ODIs and 40.51 in T20Is. Photo Credit: Getty Images
Coach is Australian. The two biggest buyers of the team are Australians. And, there are two more from Down Under.
But then, Gujarat Giants went for the best players in the auction. And Australia is, by some distance, the best women’s cricket team on the planet. The latest evidence of this came recently in Cape Town on Sunday, where Australia won their sixth Women’s T20 World Cup.
Money Well Spent!
No other team in the WPL has as strong an Australian flavour. The Giants, in fact, spent ₹5.2 crore on the two Australian stars – almost half of its purse. When you look at the quality of the duo and the current form, you really wouldn’t want to call it an overspend. Ashleigh Gardner was named Player of the T20 World Cup in South Africa, while Beth Mooney was named Player of the Final.
Mooney is a great batsman. He has been remarkably consistent, averaging 52.45 in ODIs and 40.51 in T20Is. Not many people can pace an innings the way she does; In case of an innings on a slow pitch in the World Cup final.
The day after his heroics, Mooney was named Giants captain. She is joined in the batting line-up by West Indies’ most capped women’s international Deandra Dottin, England’s Sophia Dunkley and S.J. Indian pair of Meghna and D. Hemlata.
Dottin, who – as if taking a cue from some male Caribbean players – has retired from international cricket but continues to feature in leagues around the world, is a ferocious hitter and works with her seam bowling.
The team has also signed another overseas seaming all-rounder in Annabel Sutherland.
Indian spin all-rounders Sneh Rana and Harleen Deol will play a key role. Australian leg-spinner Georgia Wareham is another option in the slow bowling department, who looks strong.
Looks like the Giants aren’t betting heavily on the seam. So Monika Patel and Manasi Joshi, neither of whom have been a part of the Indian team for some time now, may get a chance to showcase their skills.