Melbourne Stars have made a major move for the upcoming WBBL season by signing South African allrounder Marizanne Kapp to a three-year contract.
Kapp, who was the top pick for Sydney Thunder last season, joins the Stars through a new option allowing clubs to sign one player to a multi-year deal before the draft.
The opportunity to work with Stars coach Jonathan Batty and former Australia captain Meg Lanning played a significant role in Kapp’s decision. She cited her positive experiences with Batty over the past few years and the appeal of working with Lanning as key reasons for her move.
Previously, Kapp has had successful stints with Sydney Sixers and Perth Scorchers, winning back-to-back titles with the Sixers and earning Player of the Final honors with the Scorchers in the 2021-22 season.
Melbourne Stars general manager Blair Crouch praised Kapp as one of the world’s best allrounders, highlighting her impressive domestic and international record. He emphasized that Kapp’s skills with both bat and ball, along with her experience, will greatly benefit the team as they aim to compete strongly in WBBL 10.
Kapp’s recent standout performance in South Africa’s ODI victory against Australia further underscores her capability, where she contributed significantly with 75 runs and 3 wickets at North Sydney Oval.
She becomes the third overseas player in the WBBL to sign before the draft, following Amelia Kerr (Sydney Sixers) and Nadine de Klerk (Brisbane Heat). The draft is scheduled for early September, with the WBBL season set to commence shortly after the T20 World Cup in late October.