Women’s Premier League auction: Heather Knight, Lauren Bell and Lauren Filer among England players involved | Cricket News happymamay

Eight England players are hoping to be bought in the Women’s Super League auction on Sunday ahead of the third installment of the T20 competition in India in 2025.

They include captain Heather Knight, teammate Maya Bouchier, seamers Lauren Bell and Lauren Filer, and leg-spinner Sarah Glynn.

There are a maximum of five places available for foreign players – and 29 cricketers vying for those places – with the five franchises completing their squads.

Here we take a look at why the English eight should consider defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru and inaugural winners Mumbai Indians, as well as Delhi Capitals, UP Warriorz and Gujarat Titans…

Lauren Bell

At six feet tall and with an incredible swing at the ball, Bell should be among the favorites for selection. She was selected by the UP Warriorz for the inaugural competition in 2023, but did not play a single match and then withdrew last year to help with her preparations for the T20 World Cup and Ashes. With a starting price of 30,000 (£27,400), she could be of interest again to the Warriorz, who are coached by England coach John Lewis. Her lack of experience in India may hold her back – she has two wickets in two T20s on the subcontinent.

Maya Bouchier

An elegant first-order batsman, Bouchier became a mainstay of England’s limited-overs teams. Having notched more than 120 runs across her 42 T20 internationals, the Southern Vipers star has adapted well to top-level cricket. She was out for a first-ball duck in her only appearance in India last year, but her overall record away from home is better than her record in England, so she could adapt well if someone takes a gamble on her.

Danielle Gibson

A bowling all-rounder, Gibson is still finding her feet in the international game, but she could be a smart choice. She was a regular player for the Adelaide Strikers last year as they won the Women’s Big Bash League, scoring some crucial middle-order runs and picking up valuable wickets. It would be more of a surprise if she is selected than if she is not, but Royal Challengers Bengaluru Strikers coach Luke Williams might be tempted.

Sarah Glenn

Glen often operates in the shadow of Sophie Ecclestone, yet he is a key member of the England bowling unit, both at home and abroad. She has a strong record in Asia, taking 10 wickets in nine matches at 17.60, bowling with skill and control. She’s also adept with the bat, capable of hitting useful lower-order hits, which might convince the team to bring her on.

Heather Knight

One of the most experienced players in world cricket, it would be a huge surprise if the England captain does not get a contract. She was a regular for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the first season, but pulled out last year to manage her workload. This put Knight back in the auction lottery and with a base price of 50k, she is among the more expensive players, but someone with her skill and leadership experience is more likely to find a buyer.

Sophia Dunkley

A drop in form saw Dunkley ruled out of England’s series against Pakistan earlier in the year, but she has forced her way back into the team and hopes to stay there. She starred for the Gujarat Giants in the inaugural WPL season, hitting the fastest fifty in the competition, but was then released and ruled herself out of the 2024 auction. An exciting batsman on her day, you would expect someone to be interested in her.

Lauren Filer

It’s hard to find a fast pace and that’s exactly what Filer has in abundance. This year’s auction may come a little early in her career for the seamer to be selected by a team, with so many quality players on the market and so few positions available. However, if she continues to fire rockets for England and in domestic cricket, a big contract could come soon.

Paige Scholfield

Scholfield finally earned her first call-up to the international stage in September, after years of knocking on the door due to her performances with Southern Vipers, Southern Brave and Oval Invincibles. In her two T20 internationals so far, against Ireland in September, she has batted at an average of 150, so she knows how to get going.