Indonesia all-rounder Ni Made Putri Suwandewi will share a dressing room with recent T20 World Cup-winning captain Sophie Devine after signing on for the Perth Scorchers in the Women’s Big Bash League.
The 26-year-old joins the team as an Associate Rookie for season 10 of the competition, joining the likes of Devine, current Australian internationals Beth Mooney and Alana King, England’s Amy Jones and India’s Dayalan Hemalatha.
Under current WBBL playing conditions, an Associate Rookie is eligible to replace an injured domestic player or an unavailable international, and can be selected as a fourth international player in a playing XI.
Suwandewi in particular impressed at last year’s East Asia-Pacific T20 World Cup Qualifier in Indonesia, taking six wickets in as many matches, a feat all the more remarkable considering the side were forced to play their entire tournament slate in a four-day window after travel logistics meant a late arrival at the competition.
“I am very excited to be joining Perth Scorchers ahead of WBBL|10, in one of the best T20 competitions in the world.
“The WBBL has been a competition I have admired from afar for a long time, and I am looking forward to being involved as a player this season.
“The Scorchers have been a successful Club for a long period of time, and I am excited to get to work with the playing group and coaches.”
Suwandewi first represented Indonesia at the Southeast Asian Games in 2017, and made an official T20I debut in 2019 after the ICC’s ratification of status for all members in the previous year. The all-rounder was also part of the ICC’s Women’s Global Development squad, in a group that included the likes of current Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana Joty, Pakistan’s Bismah Maroof and Scotland’s Sarah Bryce among others
The signing is part of a new partnership Persatuan Cricket Indonesia and WA Cricket, with the latter supporting facility development as well as player and coach support.
Scorchers head coach Becky Grundy was impressed by Suwandewi during a trip to Indonesia as part of the agreement.
“(Suwandewi) is a fantastic talent with a bright future, and she will add significant depth to our group.
“I was incredibly impressed with her as both a cricketer and as a person.
“Her determination and hard work align perfectly with our team culture, and we’re excited to see her develop further in the Scorchers environment.”
The Scorchers begin their WBBL campaign on October 27, taking on the Melbourne Stars at the WACA in Perth.
Other Perth Scorchers Associate Rookie signings in previous seasons include Ireland’s Laura Delany in season one, Hong Kong’s Emma Lai (WBBL02) and Papua New Guinea’s Ravina Oa (WBBL03).
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