The Adelaide Strikers are an Australian women's Twenty20 cricket team based in Adelaide, South Australia. They compete in the Women's Big Bash League, and won their first championship in WBBL08.
History Formation One of eight founding WBBL teams, the Adelaide Strikers are aligned with the men's team of the same name. At the official WBBL launch on 10 July 2015, Megan Schutt was unveiled as the team's first-ever player signing. Andrea McCauley was appointed as the Strikers' inaugural coach, while Lauren Ebsary became the team's inaugural captain.
The Strikers played their first match on 12 December at Aurora Stadium against the Hobart Hurricanes, losing by two runs. Their first win came on 20 December at Allan Border Field against the Sydney Thunder, chasing down a target of 149 runs with six wickets in hand and six balls to spare.
Rivalries Perth Scorchers In the league's early years, the Strikers and the Perth Scorchers experienced several instances of senior members switching allegiances: Inaugural Strikers captain Lauren Ebsary joined the Scorchers after just one season. Former Scorchers captain Suzie Bates moved to the Strikers ahead of WBBL|03 and became the first player to lead two WBBL clubs. After scoring the most runs for Perth throughout WBBL|01, Charlotte Edwards transferred to Adelaide in her final year of cricket. The following season, Edwards assumed an assistant coaching role for the Strikers. Ahead of WBBL|06, former Adelaide all-rounder Shelley Nitschke was appointed to the position of head coach for the Scorchers.
Noteworthy matches between the two teams include: 13 January 2018, Traeger Park: In a match reduced to 16 overs per side due to a rain delay, the Scorchers could only muster a first innings score of 9/87. In the run chase, Suzie Bates played a lone hand of 49 not out to help the Strikers win by six wickets with one ball to spare. 9 November 2019, Karen Rolton Oval: An innings of 80 runs from 58 deliveries by Amy Jones helped Perth post a total of 3/173. Despite a slow start to the run chase, Adelaide finished strongly with Bridget Patterson scoring 60 off 32 balls. However, Heather Graham conceded just a single off the final ball to give the Scorchers a two-run win. 7 December 2019, Allan Border Field: In the WBBL|05 semi-finals, the Strikers comfortably reached the required total of 127 with eight wickets in hand and eleven balls remaining to eliminate the Scorchers from the tournament.
Brisbane Heat Noteworthy matches between the Strikers and the Brisbane Heat include: 21 January 2017, The Gabba: Chasing a modest total of 6/127, the Strikers required three runs for victory with two balls remaining. Brisbane medium-pacer Deandra Dottin then bowled Tegan McPharlin before conceding two runs off the final delivery to force a tie. In the resulting super over, Dottin–who had earlier scored 51 runs with the bat–capped off a dominant all-round performance by taking two wickets and limiting Adelaide to just four runs. Beth Mooney scored the winning runs to secure the Heat's first finals appearance. 8 December 2019, Allan Border Field: In the WBBL|05 final, the Heat gained early ascendancy through quick bowler Georgia Prestwidge, who dismissed Player of the Tournament Sophie Devine for just five. A "superb" knock of 55 runs from 33 balls by Amanda-Jade Wellington helped the Strikers to recover to a competitive score of 7/161. The match swung heavily toward Brisbane's favour in the fifth over of the run chase when Sammy-Jo Johnson hit four sixes against the bowling of Devine, though Johnson would be out caught-and-bowled on the last ball of the over. When Devine returned to bowl the eleventh over of the innings, Heat batter Jess Jonassen was dropped by Wellington at extra cover. Jonassen then scored a boundary from each of the next three deliveries she faced, taking Brisbane's required scoring rate down to less than a run a ball. The Heat went on to win with six wickets in hand and eleven balls remaining, claiming their second consecutive championship. For her contribution of 56 not out, Beth Mooney was named Player of the Final.
Captaincy records
There have been five captains in the Strikers' history, including matches featuring an acting captain.
CaptainSpanWonLostTiedLauren Ebsary2015–1614680042.86Tegan McPharlin2016–1714390225Suzie Bates2017–204624210153.33Megan Schutt2020–2215860157.14Tahlia McGrath2021–256635250658.33 Source:
Season summaries
SeasonFinalsCoachCaptainMost RunsMost WicketsRefs6–87thDNQLauren EbsarySarah Taylor – 393Sarah Coyte – 14Sarah Taylor2016–173–98thDNQAndrea McCauleySophie Devine – 270Megan Schutt – 13Megan Schutt2017–188–64thSFAndrea McCauleySuzie BatesSuzie Bates – 434Sophie Devine2018–195–86thDNQAndrea McCauleySuzie BatesSophie Devine – 556Sophie Devine – 14Sophie Devine2ndRULuke WilliamsSuzie BatesCoyte, Devine – 19Sophie Devine*6–76thDNQLuke WilliamsSuzie BatesSarah Coyte – 18Sarah Coyte7–64thRULuke WilliamsTahlia McGrathKatie Mack – 513Katie Mack8–52nd CLuke WilliamsMegan Schutt – 27*Megan Schutt11–31st CLuke WilliamsAmanda-Jade Wellington – 23*Megan Schutt3–67thDNQLuke WilliamsTahlia McGrathTahlia McGrath – 222Megan Schutt – 13Megan Schutt20253–46thDNQLuke WilliamsTahlia McGrathLaura Wolvaardt – 264Darcie Brown – 11Laura Wolvaardt
Legend DNQ Did not qualify SF Semi-finalists * Led the league EF Lost the Eliminator RU Runners-up ^ League record KF Lost the Knockout CF Lost the Challenger C Champions
Home grounds VenueGames hosted by season01 02 03 04 05 060708091011TotalAdelaide Oval 2 3 4 2 – N/A 4 – 2 2 1 20Adelaide Oval No. 2 3 – – – – – – – – – 3Albrecht Oval – – – 2 – – – – – – 2Centennial Park Oval – – – – 1 – 1 – – – 2Glenelg Oval – 2 4 – – – – – – – 6Karen Rolton Oval – – – 3 4 4 5 4 2 3 25Traeger Park – – 2 – – – – – – – 2
Current squad The squad of the Adelaide Strikers for the 2026 Women's Big Bash League season as of 6 October 2026. Players with international caps are listed in bold. No. Name Birth date Batting style Bowling style NotesBatters22Maia BouchierRight-handedRight-arm mediumInternational Signing2Emma de BrougheRight-handedRight-arm medium14Laura WolvaardtAll-rounders35Eleanor Larosa Left-handed Left-arm medium9Tahlia McGrath Right-handed Right-arm medium Captain11Maddie Penna Right-handed Right-arm leg spinWicket-keepers77Ellie Johnston Right-handed 21Bridget Patterson Right-handed Bowlers20Darcie Brown Right-handed Right-arm fast 19Sophie Ecclestone Right-handed Left-arm orthodoxInternational Signing27Megan Schutt Right-handed Right-arm fast 10 Right-handed Right-arm leg spin
Players Australian representatives The following is a list of cricketers who have played for the Strikers after making their debut in the national women's team (the period they spent as both a Strikers squad member and an Australian-capped player is in brackets):
Overseas marquees
Associate rookies
Honours
Champions: 2 – WBBL08, WBBL09 Runners-up: 2 – WBBL05, WBBL07 Minor Premiers: 1 – WBBL09 Finals Appearances: 1 – WBBL03, WBBL05, WBBL07, WBBL08, WBBL09 Wooden Spoons: 1 – WBBL02
Statistics and Awards
Team Stats Win–loss record: OppositionWonLostTiedBrisbane Heat2612140046.15Hobart Hurricanes221360368.42Melbourne Renegades2210110147.62Melbourne Stars20990250Perth Scorchers231390159.09Sydney Sixers229130040.91Sydney Thunder201070358.82Total155766901052.41 Highest score in an innings: 5/189 (20 overs) vs Hobart Hurricanes, 8 January 2019 Highest successful chase: 4/169 (20 overs) vs Perth Scorchers, 5 November 2023 Lowest successful defence: 7/107 (20 overs) vs Perth Scorchers, 14 January 2018 Largest victory: By runs: 148 runs vs Melbourne Stars, 21 October 2023 By wickets: 9 wickets vs Melbourne Renegades, 25 November 2021 By balls remaining: 58 balls remaining vs Sydney Sixers, 20 November 2021 Longest winning streak: 6 matches Longest losing streak: 8 matches
Source:
Individual stats Most runs: Tahlia McGrath – 2,447 Highest score in an innings: Sophie Devine – 103* (48) vs Hobart Hurricanes, 26 December 2016 Highest partnership: Katie Mack and Laura Wolvaardt – 135 vs Melbourne Stars, 21 October 2023 Most wickets: Amanda-Jade Wellington – 165 Best bowling figures in an innings: Megan Schutt – 6/19 (3.3 overs) vs Sydney Thunder, 20 November 2022 Hat-tricks taken: Darcie Brown vs Brisbane Heat, 24 October 2021 Most catches (fielder): Bridget Patterson – 52 Most dismissals (wicket-keeper): Tegan McPharlin – 91 (51 catches, 40 stumpings)
Source:
Individual awards Player of the Match: Sophie Devine – 15 Tahlia McGrath – 11 Katie Mack and Laura Wolvaardt - 7 Darcie Brown, Bridget Patterson, and Amanda-Jade Wellington – 5 Sarah Coyte and Megan Schutt – 4 Suzie Bates and Madeline Penna – 3 Deandra Dottin, Lauren Ebsary, Tegan McPharlin, Anesu Mushangwe, Alex Price, Tabatha Saville, Sarah Taylor, and Stafanie Taylor – 1 WBBL Player of the Final: Deandra Dottin – WBBL08 Amanda-Jade Wellington – WBBL09 WBBL Player of the Tournament: Sophie Devine – WBBL05 WBBL Team of the Tournament: Sophie Devine (4) – WBBL02, WBBL03, WBBL04, WBBL05 Darcie Brown (2) – WBBL06, WBBL07 Megan Schutt (2) – WBBL|05, WBBL08 Amanda-Jade Wellington (2) – WBBL|07, WBBL|08, WBBL09 Sarah Coyte – WBBL|06 Tahlia McGrath – WBBL|07 Katie Mack – WBBL|09 WBBL Young Gun Award: Darcie Brown – WBBL06
Sponsors Year Kit Manufacturer Chest Sponsor Back Sponsor Breast Sponsor Sleeve Sponsor 2015–16 Majestic Rebel Websters Lawyers Websters Lawyers Websters Lawyers2016–17 Statewide Super Rebel2017–18 Vodafone2018–19 Vodafone People's Choice Statewide Super2019–202020–21 Nike Oval Hotel Oval Hotel People's Choice 2022–23 Tool Kit Depot Tool Kit Depot2023–24 Flinders University2024–25 People First Bank
See also
South Australian Cricket Association South Australian Scorpions
References
Notes
External links