Melbourne Renegades’ Georgia Wareham has etched her name into Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) history, securing the Player of the Tournament award after a season that saw her dominate with bat and ball in equal measure. The leg-spinner’s all-round brilliance edged out Melbourne Stars captain Meg Lanning (24) by the slimmest of margins, a testament to how fiercely contested this year’s honors were.
Georgia Wareham’s All-Round Brilliance Secures WBBL 11 Player of the Tournament Honour
The umpires’ votes from every match painted a picture of sheer parity among the league’s elite. Wareham topped the leaderboard, but only after a thrilling showdown that had just five votes separating first from fifth. “In a tight top five befitting the evenness of this season,” the official report noted, highlighting stars like Sophie Devine (22), Danni Wyatt-Hodge (22), and Beth Mooney (20) who kept the pressure on right till the end.
Wareham’s contribution to Melbourne Renegades in the WBBL 2025 was nothing short of brilliant, marking a season where her all-round prowess truly came to the fore. Not only did she finish as the league’s leading wicket-taker with a remarkable 19 wickets from 10 innings, but she did so with exceptional control and potency.
Her bowling average stood at an outstanding 10.94, and she was a genuine wicket threat every time she stepped up to the crease, proven by a strike rate of just 12.00 and best figures of 3/12. This phenomenal performance with the ball cemented her as one of the most impactful bowlers of the tournament.
But what truly defined her season was the equally impressive leap in her batting game. In 9 innings, Wareham hammered 277 runs, holding an excellent average of 39.57. More strikingly, she was scoring at a rapid pace, owning a blistering strike rate of 147.34—a testament to her ability to finish an innings or accelerate the run rate when needed.
This season saw her register a top score of 58, demonstrating she could anchor an innings as well as destroy a bowling attack. Her dual contribution of 277 runs and 19 wickets paints the picture of a true MVP-calibre season, establishing Georgia Wareham as an elite all-rounder in the Women’s Big Bash League.
On November 11th, she powered her way to a season-high 58 runs off just 32 balls, a crucial knock that guided the Renegades to a chase, which she complemented by taking 2 wickets for 25 runs. A little over a week later, she delivered a bowling masterclass against the same side, tearing through their line-up with a brilliant spell of 3 wickets for only 12 runs, helping skittle the Thunder for a low score and secure a dominant victory.
Looking across her last ten innings, Wareham was a picture of reliability and explosive potential. She registered five scores of 30 or more, finishing the run with a brilliant 49 not out against the Sixers, where she also bagged an excellent 3 wickets for 21 runs. Her bowling remained consistently destructive throughout, as she took wickets in eight of those ten matches, including two 3-wicket hauls. This run of form highlights a player consistently influencing the result with both bat and ball, proving indispensable to her team.
Wareham’s leg-spin turned pitches into minefields, while her batting injected real fireworks into the Renegades’ lineup. She didn’t just contribute – she led, especially when stepping up as stand-in captain during Sophie Molineux’s injury layoff. Teammate praise flowed freely, with Molineux calling her growth over the past year a game-changer, adding that Wareham’s calm demeanor made her “a perfect fit for big moments.”
Georgia Wareham’s standout all-round displays in WBBL 11 have no doubt caught the eye of Australian selectors, with the 2026 T20 World Cup in England just six months away. The Aussies gear up next with a multi-format home series against India in February-March, then an all-format tour of the West Indies in March-April, giving Wareham prime chances to stake her claim. In between, she’ll arrive in India for the Women’s Premier League in January, donning Gujarat Giants colours.
Cricket Australia’s Big Bash head Alistair Dobson couldn’t hide his admiration, labeling Wareham “a top athlete and role model” amid a league bursting with talent. Her journey from promising talent to tournament MVP feels like the story of WBBL 11 itself – gritty, explosive, and full of heart.
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