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Danielle Wyatt, the England batter and occasional off-spinner, has been bought by UP Warriorz for a base price of INR 30 lakh in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024 auction held on Saturday, December 9. Wyatt, who surprisingly went unsold in the previous edition of the WPL, will be hoping to make a mark in the second season of the prestigious T20 league.
Wyatt is one of the most experienced and versatile players in the women’s game, having played 81 T20Is and 77 ODIs for England since her debut in 2010. She has scored over 2000 runs in both formats, with two T20I centuries and four ODI fifties to her name. She also has 46 wickets in T20Is and 28 in ODIs, with a best of 4/11 in the shortest format.
Wyatt is known for her aggressive and fearless batting style, which makes her a dangerous player at the top of the order. She can also bowl useful off-breaks and is a sharp fielder in the inner circle. She has been a part of several franchise leagues around the world, such as the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) in Australia, the Kia Super League (KSL) in England, and the Women’s T20 Challenge in India.
Wyatt’s inclusion in the UP Warriorz squad will add depth and quality to their batting line-up, which already boasts of stars like Alyssa Healy, Grace Harris, and Deepti Sharma. She will also provide an extra bowling option to the captain Sophie Ecclestone, who leads a potent attack featuring Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Tahlia McGrath, and Lauren Bell.
However, Wyatt’s form and consistency have been a concern in recent times, as she has struggled to score runs at the international level. She has averaged only 15.68 in T20Is and 18.00 in ODIs in 2023, with a highest score of 31 in both formats. She has also been in and out of the England team, as she was dropped from the ODI squad for the series against New Zealand and Australia.
Wyatt’s performance in the franchise leagues has also been patchy, as she scored only 142 runs in 14 matches for Melbourne Renegades in the WBBL 2023, with a strike rate of 97.26. She also had a forgettable outing for Trailblazers in the Women’s T20 Challenge 2023, scoring only 34 runs in three matches, with a strike rate of 85.00.
Therefore, Wyatt’s signing by UP Warriorz could be seen as a gamble, as she will have to prove her worth and justify her price tag in the WPL 2024. She will also face stiff competition for a place in the playing XI, as the team has a plethora of batting options to choose from.
Wyatt, however, has expressed her excitement and gratitude for joining UP Warriorz, and has vowed to give her best for the team. She tweeted, “Cannot wait for this: wyatt o getting sold at wpl 2024 auction. Thank you @UPWarriorz for picking me up. Looking forward to playing with some amazing players and learning from them. Ready to rock and roll in the WPL 2024.
UP Warriorz, who finished third in the WPL 2023, will be aiming to go one step further and clinch the title in the WPL 2024. They have retained 13 players and bought five new ones in the auction, spending INR 1.6 crore out of their purse of INR 4 crore. They have a balanced and formidable squad, with a mix of experience and youth, and a blend of Indian and overseas talent.
She has two T20I centuries and four ODI fifties to her name. She has also played in various franchise leagues around the world, such as the WBBL, KSL, WT20C, and WPL. Here are some of her cricket stats.
| Format | Matches | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 100s/50s | Wickets | Average | Economy Rate | 4w/5w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T20I | 81 | 1549 | 21.52 | 123.91 | 2/6 | 46 | 22.95 | 6.30 | 1/0 |
| ODI | 77 | 2018 | 26.93 | 80.14 | 0/4 | 28 | 36.57 | 4.66 | 0/0 |
Her stats in various franchise leagues:
| League | Matches | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 100s/50s | Wickets | Average | Economy Rate | 4w/5w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WBBL | 56 | 1,005 | 19.13 | 114.88 | 0/4 | 17 | 36.76 | 7.64 | 0/0 |
| KSL | 32 | 1,003 | 35.82 | 144.10 | 0/9 | 13 | 25.00 | 6.76 | 0/0 |
| WT20C | 9 | 176 | 22.00 | 112.82 | 0/1 | 1 | 69.00 | 8.63 | 0/0 |
| WPL | 14 | 142 | 10.92 | 97.26 | 0/0 | 0 | – | – | 0/0 |
Wyatt will be keen to make a positive impact for UP Warriorz and regain her form and confidence in the WPL 2024. She will also be looking to impress the England selectors and secure her spot in the national team for the upcoming ICC Women’s World Cup 2025. Wyatt has the potential and the skills to be a match-winner for any team, and UP Warriorz will be hoping that she will unleash her best in the WPL 2024
