English bolter Maia Bouchier signs with Melbourne Stars

Melbourne Stars have signed recent England debutant batter Maia Bouchier for the upcoming WBBL season.

The 22-year-old made her T20I debut in England's recent series against New Zealand following some promising performances for Southern Brave in the women's Hundred. She has also had a steady season for Southern Vipers in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, helping the Vipers reach the final.

The Stars have lost experienced South Africa middle-order batter Mignon du Preez to Hobart Hurricanes and Bouchier joins a relatively inexperienced middle-order behind the star-studded top-order duo of Meg Lanning and Elyse Villani.

"I've watched the WBBL over recent seasons from the UK and we know what a quality tournament it is to be a part of," Bouchier said. "I'm really excited to make my debut in the competition and I'd like to thank the Melbourne Stars for the opportunity to be involved.

"The Stars have some fantastic players and I know how close they went to winning the title last year, so hopefully I can make a contribution to a successful season."

Bouchier will have to do 14-day mandatory hotel quarantine when entering Australia ahead of the tournament starting on October 14. The Stars' Melbourne-based players will also have to serve a 14-day quarantine in Hobart after the first 20 matches of the WBBL were shifted to Tasmania due to Covid-19 outbreaks and lockdowns in Victoria and New South Wales. But the Stars and Melbourne Renegades will be allowed to train while completing quarantine however, the two Sydney-based sides will not be given training exemptions while in quarantine due to the severity of Sydney's outbreak.