WBBL 2023: Tammy Beaumont signs with Melbourne Renegades, Adelaide Strikers rope in Georgia Adams

English batter Tammy Beaumont has signed with her previous team, Melbourne Renegades, while Adelaide Strikers roped in off-spinning all-rounder Georgia Adams for the upcoming season of the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL).

Beaumont has signed with the Renegades through a new direct signing rule after being ruled out of the WBBL overseas draft. Notably, overseas players were able to bypass the draft and sign directly with a team under certain conditions. Beaumont will join her England teammates Amy Jones (Perth Scorchers) and Sophia Dunkley (Melbourne Stars), as well as South Africa pair Mignon du Preez (Brisbane Heat) and Lizelle Lee (Hobart Hurricanes), and New Zealander Suzie Bates by the direct signing. 

She previously played for Renegades in 2019 before having played for Sydney Thunder in three seasons, including their title-winning campaign in 2020. In addition, the 32-year-old started her career in WBBL at Strikers from 2016 to 2018. She joins West Indies captain Hayley Matthews and India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur at Renegades in the forthcoming season.

Simon Helmot, Renegades' head coach, stated that with the overseas draft, the team ought to strengthen their batting.

"We have to improve our batting. We need runs, and that's something that we missed last season, obviously with Harmanpreet not able to come and with Jess Duffin then not able to play either, we just didn't recover from that. So batting depth is what we're looking to develop," Helmot told ESPNcricinfo.

Meanwhile, Adams' signing was a bold move made by the Strikers since she has not played international cricket yet. Apart from her, Strikers also signed South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt and emerging England allrounder Danielle Gibson at the draft. However, the team did not retain title-winning allrounder Deandra Dottin due to salary regulations.

Adams will reunite with Strikers coach Luke Williams after working together to help Southern Brave win the Women's Hundred, with Williams, who is working as an assistant coach. The 29-year-old off-spinner was crucial for Brave in the recently-concluded season with both bat and ball.