The Sydney Thunder have claimed South African Marizanne Kapp as pick one in the inaugural Weber WBBL|09 Overseas Player Draft.
Arguably the leading all-rounder in the game, Kapp will pull on the lime green for the first time having spent the last two seasons with the Perth Scorchers.
Despite the best efforts of the Melbourne Renegades to pinch New Zealand big hitter, Sophie Devine, the Scorchers elected to retain their superstar captain.
The Renegades were able to hold onto Hayley Matthews with their pick, while cross-town rivals the Melbourne Stars elected to have their star all-rounder, Alice Capsey return for WBBL|09.
Speedster Shabnim Ismail found a new home in Hobart, while Amelia Kerr will stay in Brisbane after being selected by the Heat.
Spinning all-rounder, Chloe Tryon was picked up by the Sydney Sixers to round out the first round with the Strikers opting to pass.
Round two saw the Strikers use a retention pick on Laura Woldvaardt, while Heather Knight (Thunder), Harmanpreet Kaur (Renegades) and Maia Bouchier (Stars) all return to familiar surrounds. Bryony Smith found a home at the Hurricanes, while Danni Wyatt will feature for the Scorchers for the first time in WBBL|09.
The English trio of Dani Gibson (Strikers), Lauren Bell (Thunder) and Bess Heath (Heat) were the only players picked up in round three, while New Zealand's Jessica Kerr (Sixers) was the sole pick in the final round.
The full list of players selected in the Weber WBBL|09 Draft is:
Round One
1. Sydney Thunder: Marizanne Kapp
2. Perth Scorchers: Sophie Devine (retained)
3. Melbourne Renegades: Hayley Matthews
4. Melbourne Stars: Alice Capsey
5. Hobart Hurricanes: Shabnim Ismail
6. Brisbane Heat: Amelia Kerr
7. Sydney Sixers: Chloe Tryon
8. Adelaide Strikers: Pass
Round Two
9. Sydney Thunder: Heather Knight
10. Melbourne Renegades: Harmanpreet Kaur
11. Perth Scorchers: Danni Wyatt
12. Adelaide Strikers: Laura Woldvaardt (retained)
13. Melbourne Stars: Maia Bouchier
14. Hobart Hurricanes: Bryony Smith
15. Brisbane Heat: Pass
16. Sydney Sixers: Pass
Round Three
17. Adelaide Strikers: Dani Gibson
18. Sydney Thunder: Lauren Bell
19. Brisbane Heat: Bess Heath
20. Hobart Hurricanes: Pass
21. Melbourne Stars: Pass
22. Perth Scorchers: Pass
23. Melbourne Renegades: Pass
24. Sydney Sixers: Pass
Round Four
25. Sydney Sixers: Jessica Kerr
26. Melbourne Renegades: Pass
27. Perth Scorchers: Pass
28. Melbourne Stars: Pass
29. Hobart Hurricanes: Pass
30. Brisbane Heat: Pass
31. Sydney Thunder: Pass
32. Adelaide Strikers: Pass
The WBBL Draft offers players the option of nominating to be directly contracted by a Club after the Draft only. If a player opts for a direct nomination, they are not available to be selected by a Club during the Draft. The contracting period for direct signings begins at 9am tomorrow.
If a player opts for this approach and is directly contracted by a Club after the Draft, the player’s retainer cannot exceed more than 95% of the amount a Club must pay a Silver Overseas Player.
The following players have submitted direct nominations in the Weber WBBL|09 Overseas Player Draft:
Suzie Bates (New Zealand)
Tammy Beaumont (England)
Sophia Dunkley (England)
Mignon du Preez (South Africa)
Lizelle Lee (South Africa)
Amy Jones (England)
Alistair Dobson, Cricket Australia’s General Manager, Big Bash Leagues, said:
"A big congratulations must go to Marizanne Kapp on being the first player picked in the inaugural WBBL Overseas Play Draft.
"It was a star-studded list of players to choose from and obviously a tough choice for the Scorchers to make in terms of who they'd retain, but Marizanne is a world-class player and we're wrapped to have her back in the WBBL this season.
"It was pleasing to see some new faces picked up, with the likes of Lauren Bell and Dani Gibson set to feature in the tournament for the first time.
"There's no doubt the first WBBL Draft has been a huge success and we look forward to seeing how the BBL Draft plays out this evening."