Lizelle Lee joins Hobart Hurricanes in WBBL

Former South Africa batter Lizelle Lee has signed with Hobart Hurricanes in the WBBL for the upcoming season, joining her third different WBBL side in four seasons.

Lee, 30, has been a sought-after player in the WBBL, playing three seasons with Melbourne Stars before moving to Melbourne Renegades in 2020-21. She has a stellar WBBL record, having scored 1361 runs at a strike rate of 124.86 in 53 matches with two centuries.

Lee said her long-time friend and former South African and Stars teammate Mignon du Preez was the catalyst for her move to Hurricanes along with conversations with Hurricanes coach Salliann Briggs.

"My good friend and South African teammate, Mignon, said she really enjoyed her time in the Hurricanes environment last season," Lee said. "So that, on top of the great conversations I've had with Sall and the team, I can't wait to get stuck in and see what it's like for myself this year.

"Some people might know that I was originally meant to join the Hurricanes last year, but due to a combination of my family circumstances, international commitments and bubble fatigue, for the sake our my own and my family's well-being, I just couldn't make it work."

Lee recently retired from international cricket in abrupt circumstances with claims Cricket South Africa threatened to deny her a No Objection Certificate to play in the Hundred. While announcing her retirement, Lee had stated she would continue to play in franchise tournaments.

Hobart Hurricanes squad: Nicola Carey, Maisy Gibson, Heather Graham, Ruth Johnston, Lizelle Lee, Emma Manix-Geeves, Hayley Silver-Holmes, Amy Smith, Naomi Stalenberg, Molly Strano, Rachel Trenaman, Elyse Villani