The Hobart Hurricanes have strengthened their ties with former South African opener Lizelle Lee by securing her as their pre-draft overseas signing on a two-year contract.
After retiring from international cricket in 2022, Lee relocated to Tasmania permanently and made her debut for the Hurricanes in WBBL 2022.
As a wicketkeeper-batter, she was the club’s top run-scorer last season, amassing 409 runs at an average of 37.18 and a strike rate of 146.07.
Her performance included an unbeaten 101 against the Melbourne Renegades, marking her third WBBL century.
“I feel like the team made some strong progress last season, and I am looking forward to playing my role and natural game as we aim to bring Tasmania and the Hurricanes their first WBBL trophy,” Lee said in a statement from Hobart.
With 2066 runs at an average of 27.91 in her 82-match WBBL career, Lee ranks 16th among the tournament’s all-time leading run-scorers.
“With her and Junior [Elyse Villani] at the top of our order, we arguably have the most experienced and talented opening pairing in the WBBL,” said Cricket Tasmania’s general manager Salliann Beams.
“Lee adds tremendous value to our overseas pre-signing, and considering we had the number one pick in the WBBL draft, it made perfect sense to pre-sign someone of her caliber.”
“She can change the game with both the bat and in the field, as she has done time and again in international cricket for South Africa and in the WBBL,” Beams added.
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