2018–19 Melbourne Stars WBBL season

Each 2018–19 squad featured 15 active players, with an allowance of up to five marquee signings including a maximum of three from overseas. Under a new rule, Australian marquees were classed as players who held a national women's team contract at the time of signing on for their WBBL|04 team.[1]

Personnel changes included:

• Holly Ferling joined the Stars, having spent three seasons with the Brisbane Heat where she was the first-ever player signing.[2]
• After winning two championships as a member of the Sydney Sixers, Angela Reakes made a move interstate to sign with Melbourne.[3]
• Nicola Hancock joined the Stars, having played previous seasons with the Hobart Hurricanes and the Melbourne Renegades.[3]
• Hayleigh Brennan departed the team and subsequently signed with the Perth Scorchers.[4]
• In August 2018, Emma Kearney confirmed her decision to quit cricket and instead focus on her AFL Women's career.[5]
• In September 2018, Gemma Triscari announced her retirement from the WBBL.[6]
• New Zealand player Katey Martin replaced England marquee Georgia Elwiss, who was unable late in the season due to national team commitments, for two matches.[7]

The table below lists the Stars players and their key stats (including runs scored, batting strike rate, wickets taken, economy rate, catches and stumpings) for the season.[3][8][9][10]

No.	Name	Nat.	Birth date	Batting style	Bowling style	G	R	SR	W	E	C	S	Notes
Batters
00	Mignon du Preez		13 June 1989	Right-handed	–	14	266	109.46	–	–	3	–	Overseas marquee
34	Georgia Elwiss		31 May 1991	Right-handed	Right-arm medium	12	129	96.26	3	7.97	4	–	Overseas marquee
2	Katie Mack		14 September 1993	Right-handed	Right-arm leg spin	11	90	79.64	–	–	3	–
21	Katey Martin		7 February 1985	Right-handed	–	2	17	54.83	–	–	0	–	Overseas marquee (replacement)
33	Angela Reakes		27 December 1990	Right-handed	Right-arm leg spin	14	221	100.45	0	18.00	3	–
All-rounders
15	Makinley Blows		12 December 1997	Left-handed	Right-arm medium	3	4	80.00	0	14.66	0	–
14	Elly Donald		17 September 1997	Right-handed	Right-arm medium	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
76	Erin Osborne		27 June 1989	Right-handed	Right-arm off spin	14	249	103.31	9	6.39	3	–
3	Annabel Sutherland		12 October 2001	Right-handed	Right-arm medium fast	14	123	93.89	7	6.80	4	–
Wicket-keepers
4	Nicole Faltum		17 January 2000	Right-handed	–	8	14	87.50	–	–	4	3
67	Lizelle Lee		2 April 1992	Right-handed	Right-arm medium	14	276	136.63	–	–	4	0	Overseas marquee
Bowlers
26	Kristen Beams		6 November 1984	Right-handed	Right-arm leg spin	6	2	66.66	6	7.09	2	–	Captain, Australian marquee
9	Holly Ferling		22 December 1995	Right-handed	Right-arm medium fast	14	20	125.00	11	7.90	1	–
44	Nicola Hancock		8 November 1995	Right-handed	Right-arm medium fast	14	37	90.24	13	8.09	3	–
13	Alana King		22 November 1995	Right-handed	Right-arm leg spin	14	78	88.63	15	6.74	8	–
7	Chloe Rafferty		16 June 1999	Right-handed	Right-arm medium fast	–	–	–	–	–	–	–

• The four top ranked teams qualified for the semi finals

All times are local time

The Melbourne Renegades recorded the second one-wicket victory in the league's history when Lea Tahuhu, a fast bowler not known for her batting ability, hit the winning single off leg-spinning Stars captain Kristen Beams with just one ball to spare. Courtney Webb, on 21 not out, was the set batter at the non-striker's end.[12][13]

• Most runs: Lizelle Lee – 276 (equal 19th in the league)[15]
• Highest score in an innings: Lizelle Lee – 102* (56) vs Sydney Sixers, 1 December 2018[16]
• Most wickets: Alana King – 15 (equal 10th in the league)[17]
• Best bowling figures in an innings: Nicola Hancock – 4/22 (4 overs) vs Sydney Sixers, 1 December 2018[18]
• Most catches (fielder): Alana King – 8 (equal 5th in the league)[19]
• Player of the Match awards:
  • Erin Osborne – 2
  • Alana King, Lizelle Lee, Katie Mack – 1 each
• Stars Player of the Season: Alana King[20]