If Kathryn Bryce isn’t a cricket household name already then that is all set to change over the next few months. The Scotland captain has been making waves on both side of the border for some time now but her selection this week as the only player from an Associate [non-ICC full member] nation to be drafted for the WPL [Women’s Premier League] that takes place in India in February and March will help elevate the all-rounder’s status to a whole new level.
Nobody goes mad for cricket quite like the Indians and before and after the draft Bryce’s name was the subject of fevered debate in articles, podcasts and other bulletins. An Indian journalist even took the chance to join this Cricket Scotland-arranged Zoom call from Tasmania where Bryce is based for the next few months, eager to learn more about the player that the Gujarat Giants have just snapped up for 1million rupees (around £10,000). She will need to get used to that level of attention.
Associate players don’t count towards a team’s quota of four overseas players but, given that there were only a total of nine places available for non-Indians, it still counts as a significant feather In Bryce’s cap that she got selected when many others, including younger sister Sarah, were left disappointed.
“I wasn’t able to watch the auction in person but I got a call to say I had made it and that was a pretty exciting moment,” she revealed. “There’s always a bit of hope but you never know how these things are going to go, especially with just five teams and only nine places for overseas players.
“I’d had a couple of conversations with people before the draft. The analyst for the Giants was also the analyst for the men’s Manchester Originals team so I’d met him to speak about it, but a lot of it really came down to how the rest of the auction played out.
“I’d hoped a few of the other teams might have picked up a few of the other Associate players but it’s just myself so I have to go now and make the most of this opportunity.”
This is just the second edition of the WPL but the hope is it will eventually grow to be as big as its male IPL [Indian Premier League] equivalent which has become the most lucrative and popular T20 tournament in the world.
“Playing in India will be pretty special,” adds Bryce. “Going into that environment as an overseas player will be a bit different for me but just getting this opportunity to play on one of the biggest stages is really exciting.
“Last month I had a three-day training camp over there with the RCB [Royal Challengers Bangalore]. It was my first time in India and the exposure you get there compared to Scotland is different as well. To also be there at the same time as the World Cup final and get to experience that was just crazy.
“I’d hope the WPL will eventually grow to become as big as the IPL. What we’ve seen with franchise tournaments all around the world is that if you really invest in it and properly market it then people will get drawn into it, watch it on TV and come along to support their team. Hopefully it will keep getting that funding to expand it year on year and get more people invested in it from all around the world.”
It is all quiet on the Scotland front just now but an active Bryce will only be a good thing with the T20 World Cup global qualifier set to take place just after the WPL in April.
The Wildcats are still without a permanent head coach but Bryce was happy to go into bat on behalf of Craig Wallace, the former men’s wicket-keeper currently in temporary charge.
“We’ve become used to a lot of ups and downs throughout our Scotland careers but having Craig on board this year has been fantastic,” she adds. “He’s been really invested in the girls’ programme and really pushing that forward. The girls really get on well with him so hopefully he’s able to hang around for a while longer yet.”
