Garth signs long-term with Melbourne Stars

Former Ireland international Kim Garth has locked in her future in Australia signing a three-year WBBL deal to remain at the Melbourne Stars.

Garth, 26, has played 85 times for Ireland in ODI and T20I cricket but has not represented her country since 2019 and relocated to Australia full-time in 2020 after signing a contract with Victoria in the WNCL. She has now completed her residency so will be classed as a local player.

Garth was a shining light for Stars in a dismal WBBL season last year as their player of the season finishing with 15 wickets, including a remarkable opening spell of 3-3-0-3 against Sydney Thunder, and averaging 27.33 with the bat.

Garth will be part of a Stars side now under the guidance of new coach Jonathan Batty.

"I'm loving my time in Melbourne and I can't wait for the next three seasons with the Melbourne Stars," Garth said.

"I haven't been home [to Ireland] for over two years so it has been great to get back in the offseason but I'm looking forward to getting back and putting in a solid block of work before the start of the season and working with Jonathan and the entire coaching team.

"I haven't had the chance to play in front of our members and fans at home yet which is something I'm really looking forward to in WBBL08."

Stars general manager Blair Crouch was delighted to secure Garth for three more years.

"Her energy on and off the field is infectious and her impact on the group in a short time has been profound," he said. Kim has worked extremely hard on her game over the last couple of seasons and her improvement with both bat and ball is a credit to that hard work."