West Indies captain Hayley Matthews has officially recommitted to the Melbourne Renegades, setting the stage for an electrifying Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) title defence. The world’s No.1 ranked T20I all-rounder has inked a fresh two-year deal, locking her in as the Renegades’ pre-draft overseas signing and keeping her in red through to the end of WBBL|12.
Matthews, one of the cornerstones behind the Renegades’ historic rise from wooden-spooners in WBBL|09 to champions in WBBL|10, was nothing short of phenomenal last season. Her performance was headlined by a blistering campaign in which she piled up 324 runs at a strike rate of 130.6 and scalped 14 wickets — numbers that earned her a well-deserved spot in the WBBL|10 Team of the Tournament.
Saving her finest moment for the biggest stage, Matthews delivered a match-winning 69 off 61 balls and returned figures of 2-24 in the final against Brisbane Heat, helping her side clinch a thrilling seven-run victory at the MCG. That defining all-round show earned her the player-of-the-match honours in the decider.
Speaking about her hunger to defend the title, Matthews expressed her passion and connection with the club, “Lifting that trophy was special — now I want to defend it. Melbourne is a second home to me, and the Renegades give me the freedom to back in my own game and influence with the bat, ball and in the field – and I can’t wait to run it back with this group.”
While many of the overseas and domestic Australian stars are expected to join the WBBL later this year following their commitments at the 50-over World Cup in India, Matthews is poised to be sharper and fresher. The West Indies failed to qualify for the global tournament, allowing Matthews a clearer runway into the Big Bash.
That said, she hasn’t been resting on her laurels. On the ongoing white-ball tour of England, Matthews is in the form of her life. She cracked a sensational 67-ball century in the opening T20I, followed it with a 71 and a superb 3-32 in the 3rd T20I. Despite West Indies going down 3-0 in the series, Matthews was a standout force, being named player of the match in two out of three games and ultimately crowned the player of the series with a total of 177 runs and 3 wickets.
To put her individual brilliance into perspective, no other West Indies batter scored more than 47 runs across the series — underlining just how heavily the team leaned on their captain.
WBBL head coach Simon Helmot did not mince words when speaking about the significance of retaining Matthews for another campaign, “Hayley sets the tone in every phase — fearless batting, Powerplay wickets, calm leadership. Keeping her in red gives us real momentum heading into WBBL|11.”
Matthews’ re-signing gives the Renegades a crucial early boost ahead of WBBL|11. So far, their squad features Emma de Broughe (W|11), Tess Flintoff (recruited from Melbourne Stars), Ella Hayward (W|11), Milly Illingworth (W|11), Georgia Prestwidge (W|11), Naomi Stalenberg (W|11), and now Matthews (W|12).
The franchise is yet to announce renewals or releases for several high-profile names including Sarah Coyte, Josie Dooley, Nicole Faltum, Sophie Molineux, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham, and Courtney Webb, with more signings expected in the coming weeks.
With her WBBL career now extending across 94 matches, Matthews has represented just two teams — the Hobart Hurricanes and Melbourne Renegades. In total, she has notched 1697 runs with a personal best of an unbeaten 85, alongside 77 wickets, with a best of 5 for 19.
Her dominance extends far beyond the WBBL. In the Women’s Premier League (WPL), she’s been a key figure for the Mumbai Indians, scoring 758 runs with a top score of 77* and claiming 41 wickets, with best figures of 3 for 5.
In the Caribbean Premier League (WCPL), Matthews leads the charge for the Barbados Royals. In just 13 matches, she’s accumulated 424 runs and taken 23 wickets — showcasing her consistent match-winning capabilities. Her influence continues in The Hundred, where she dons the red and yellow of the Welsh Fire. There, too, she’s been a force, racking up 662 runs and 25 wickets from 25 appearances.
On the international stage, Matthews has carved out a formidable legacy. With 109 T20Is under her belt, she’s amassed 2828 runs — including a career-best 132 — and has taken 111 wickets, with standout figures of 4 for 10. A genuine match-winner with bat and ball, her all-round brilliance has placed her firmly among the elite in world cricket.
As the countdown to WBBL|11 begins, Matthews remains a towering figure at the heart of the Renegades’ ambitions — a leader, a finisher, and a game-changer ready to make history once again.
