Australian captain Alyssa Healy has gone unsold in the Women’s Premier League Auction, while teenage prodigy Lucy Hamilton has been signed for her maiden campaign in the glamorous Indian tournament.
Healy, who cracked consecutive hundreds during the recent World Cup campaign in the subcontinent, was ignored by each of the five franchises during Thursday’s mega auction, unsold at her base price of 50 lakh (AU$85,600).
The 35-year-old, who captained the UP Warriorz during the first two seasons of the T20 competition in 2023 and 2024, missed this year’s WPL campaign due to a foot injury, while she has recently battled thumb and knee issues.
Last month, Healy thumped back-to-back hundreds against Bangladesh and host nation India in the World Cup, where Australia failed to defend its title having been knocked out in the semi-finals. She is currently representing the Sydney Sixers in the Women’s Big Bash League.
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“Healy going unsold was surprising for different reasons,” UP Warriorz coach Abhishek Nayar said.
“When you’re allowed only four overseas players (in the team), your options are limited, and many teams prefer all-rounders in their set-up. It’s a tough situation for someone of her stature.”
Australian leg-spinner Alanna King, who claimed record-breaking figures of 7-18 against South Africa during the World Cup, also went unsold, along with England captain Heather Knight and Sri Lanka all-rounder Chamari Athapaththu.
Elsewhere, former Australian captain Meg Lanning was signed by the UP Warriorz for AU$325,700 (INR 1.9 crore), making her the fifth-highest earner of the evening. The 33-year-old could open the batting alongside young gun Phoebe Litchfield, who was signed by the Lucknow-based franchise for $205,700 (INR 1.1 crore).
Hamilton, who captained Australia at this year’s Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia, was snapped up by the Delhi Capitals for $17,000 (50 lakh). The left-armed seamer, who celebrated her 19th birthday in May and represents the Brisbane Heat in the WBBL, headlines the next generation of Australian cricketers as the national team approaches a period of transition.
Melbourne Renegades quick Milly Illingworth, also yet to make her international debut, was another surprise signing, with the 20-year-old joining the Mumbai Indians on a $17,000 deal.
Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma, named player of the tournament for this year’s World Cup, became the joint second-most expensive player in WPL history after being signed by the UP Warriorz for $549,000 (INR 3.2 crore). The highest bid in a WPL Auction remains the Smriti Mandhana’s INR 3.4 crore from the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2023.
Australians sold in the WPL Auction
Lucy Hamilton – Delhi Capitals ($17,000)
Lizelle Lee – Delhi Capitals ($51,400)
Georgia Wareham – Gujarat Giants ($171,000)
Kim Garth – Gujarat Giants ($85,600)
Nicola Carey – Mumbai Indians ($85,600)
Milly Illingworth – Mumbai Indians ($17,100)
Grace Harris – Royal Challengers Bengaluru ($128,500)
Georgia Voll – Royal Challengers Bengaluru ($102,800)
Meg Lanning – UP Warriorz ($325,500)
Phoebe Litchfield – UP Warriorz ($205,000)
