Australian cricket great Lisa Sthalekar is dusting the cobwebs from her cricket bag and coming out of retirement to play in the new Women Big Bash League.
The first female to score 1000 runs and take 100 wickets in ODIs, 36-year-old Sthalekar quit playing after helping Australia to win the 2013 World Cup.
But the India-born star announced on Monday she will turn out for the Sydney Sixers in the inaugural WBBL T20 tournament starting in December.
"I'm really excited, the fact that I get to put on this cool gear and to play cricket with my mates again is going to be a lot of fun," said Sthalekar.
"I didn't want to give up this opportunity with the Women's Big Bash, it's a real credit to Cricket Australia and the State Associations for giving the girls this opportunity."
One of the most accomplished female cricketers in the world, Sthalekar has been a part of four Australian World Cup-winning squads as well as two Ashes-winning teams.
"It's such an exciting competition that I wanted to be a part of it and because I'd retired only a few years earlier I thought that I might still have an opportunity to give back to the game but also work with some of the players that I enjoyed watching develop and grow up, especially in the Cricket NSW programs."
Since retiring the diminutive star has been coaching full-time with Cricket NSW.
Sthalekar, who holds the WNCL record for the most games played and wickets taken, will also be a part of the WBBL and BBL commentary team, signing for Channel 10.
STATS THAT MATTER:
STHALEKAR'S AUSTRALIAN RECORD:
TESTS:
Matches:
8
Runs:
416
Average:
32
Top score: 120no
Wickets:
23
Average: 20.95
Best bowling: 5-30
ODIs:
Matches:
125
Runs:
2728
Average: 30.65
Top score: 104no
Wickets:
146
Average: 24.97
Best bowling: 5-35
T20s:
Matches:
54
Runs:
769
Average: 21.36
Top score: 52
Wickets:
60
Average: 19.35
Best bowling: 4-18
