Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu will join the Hobart Hurricanes for this season’s Women’s Big Bash League, replacing injured England international Danni Wyatt-Hodge in the defending champions’ squad.
The club has also signed emerging wicketkeeper-batter Kate Pelle, days before the Hurricanes open their season against the Melbourne Stars on Thursday.
Athapaththu, 36, is ranked sixth in the ICC Women’s T20I batting rankings and has played 69 WBBL matches across the past seven seasons with the Perth Scorchers, Melbourne Renegades and Sydney Thunder.
In WBBL|09, she was named Player of the Tournament after scoring 552 runs at an average of 42.46 for the Thunder. She also took nine wickets that season.
Hurricanes head of high performance Salliann Beams said the club was “incredibly disappointed” for Wyatt-Hodge, who she said was influential in the club’s maiden championship last year.
“To be able to bring in someone of Chamari’s quality and experience is a fantastic result for the Hurricanes,” Beams said.
“She’s one of the most dangerous batters in world cricket, she’s a proven performer in the WBBL and she brings enormous leadership experience as captain of Sri Lanka.”
Pelle earned her contract after the recent Spring Challenge in NSW, where she opened the batting while Lizelle Lee was unavailable.
The young batter scored 61 from 55 balls in the opening win over the ACT Meteors and 43 from 32 against the Scorchers, finishing the four-match tournament with 136 runs.
A former NSW player now in Tasmania’s domestic program, Pelle also gives the Hurricanes a second wicketkeeping option alongside Lee.
“Kate was given an opportunity during the Spring Challenge and she certainly made the most of it,” Beams said.
“She played with confidence, showed her ability to score runs against quality opposition and really put her hand up for a place in our WBBL squad.”
Last month, the Hurricanes re-signed off-spinner Lauren Smith and all-rounder Ruth Johnston for their title defence.
The Hurricanes open their season against the Melbourne Stars on Thursday at 7:10pm.
