New Delhi, Jan 5 (NationPress) After stepping back from her international cricket responsibilities with South Africa in 2022, Lizelle Lee has dedicated the past few years to competing in Australia’s domestic leagues, residing in Hobart with her wife Tanja and their two children.

As she gears up for her inaugural stint in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) with Delhi Capitals (DC), Lizelle is filled with enthusiasm about joining a franchise eager to secure their maiden title.

"It’s been quite enjoyable here. I've visited the beach once, and it's a lovely place, albeit quite busy. I believe it’s essential to immerse myself in the WPL experience. I haven't played here before, so this opportunity with Delhi Capitals is truly exciting. They've been an excellent franchise, and I hope to learn a lot. By the end of this tournament, I aspire for us to lift the trophy," Lizelle shared in an exclusive interview with IANS from DC's pre-season camp in Goa.

A key highlight of Lizelle's acquisition by DC during last year’s mega auction is the chance to reunite with former South African teammates Marizanne Kapp and Laura Wolvaardt. The idea of not facing Marizanne's formidable bowling elicited a playful sigh from Lizelle, while the thought of batting alongside Laura brought a warm smile to her face.

"It’s incredible. I never thought I would play with them again in the same team. So, it’s pretty amazing to have them on the same side, and it will be fantastic not to bat against Kapp for a change," she expressed.

"I've had a few net sessions with Laura Wolvaardt, and it’s great to reconnect since we haven’t batted together in about four years. I’m really looking forward to it," she added.

Lizelle's batting style has long been characterized by her power-hitting and effortless boundary striking. "It’s something that developed naturally over time. However, it has evolved to adapt to the game. Sometimes it's not just about power; it’s also about how you can affect the game and the field positions. I’m working to evolve with the game, hoping to continue this for several more years," she noted.

This evolution is supported by her hard work behind the scenes. "I’ve been focusing on my fitness and spending time in the gym, which I believe contributed to a strong preseason. I scored some runs in the WNCL in Australia, which gave me momentum heading into the Big Bash. Although my scores in the Big Bash weren’t optimal, playing aggressively and positively helped set me up for success," she explained.

One significant lesson Lizelle has learned is the value of authenticity in her batting style, regardless of the team she plays for. "It’s a team sport for a reason - everyone must play their natural game. Whether aggressive or otherwise, you must stay true to your style, as that’s why you’re part of the team. This is a lesson I’ve learned and intend to continue following," she stated.

Her mindset has been beneficial throughout her experiences in the WBBL, WNCL, and occasionally in The Hundred. "Good question. I’m not sure, but I’ve primarily played in the Big Bash for the past few years and haven’t participated in the WPL or The Hundred in a while. It’s great to return to these tournaments; scoring runs is critical to securing future opportunities," she remarked.

Living in Australia has allowed her to manage her commitments more effectively, reducing the risk of burnout. "Fortunately, I don’t face that issue as often. I feel international players have more challenges with tours and T20 leagues. I’ve played in the Big Bash, and this is my first away trip in a long time. I need to adjust, especially if I want to keep playing for the next few years. It’s essential to manage my needs, prioritizing myself as a person first and then as a player," she emphasized.

Looking ahead, Lizelle has already identified her post-playing aspirations: umpiring. "It’s amusing how most players either exit cricket or move into coaching. I aim to stay connected to cricket, but I don’t want to coach. I genuinely enjoy umpiring; having officiated a few games, it’s something I want to pursue after my playing days," she shared.

Last month, Lizelle became one of the first female umpires to officiate in a men’s third-grade match in Tasmanian Premier cricket and served as an on-field umpire in the Female U19 National Championships.

"Australia has provided me with several umpiring opportunities in championships, which I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. I plan to continue as my schedule allows, and when I retire from cricket in a couple of years, I hope to keep doing it," she expressed.

From DC’s viewpoint, Lizelle's signing fulfills multiple needs. "Acquiring Lizelle Lee addressed two long-standing requirements - top-order batting strength and an overseas wicketkeeper. Historically, Delhi Capitals have alternated between an overseas batter and an Indian wicketkeeper, but with Lizelle, we gain both in one player. She offers explosive starts alongside Shafali, and her ability to handle both pace and spin adds significant value. Ideally, we expect her and Shafali to score 60–65 runs in the Powerplay with minimal risk," said CricViz analysts from the Delhi Capitals scouting team to IANS.

Lee is impressed by the squad DC has assembled, despite the need to recruit leg-spinner Alana King to replace seam-bowling all-rounder Annabel Sutherland. "It’s a well-balanced team, and they have made solid recruits. It’s unfortunate we lost Belsy just before the tournament, but we’ve secured Kingi, who is a great replacement. We’re poised for a good tournament," she noted.

Having previously played in India for various bilateral series against South Africa and the 2016 T20 World Cup, Lizelle's focus in Goa has been on adapting her game to the conditions that Navi Mumbai and Vadodara will present. "I’ve been to India before, but it’s been a while since I’ve visited Mumbai and other areas. I’m excited to play at those venues again. I feel the wicket here is a bit different, and we’re at a new stadium. Ultimately, I must adapt to the conditions quickly while sticking to what I do best and ensuring my fundamentals are sound," she articulated.

The advancement of domestic Indian players has particularly impressed her. "It’s been remarkable. There are many young players progressing through the ranks and performing excellently. It’s uplifting to witness the impact the WPL has had on domestic talent, allowing them to compete alongside international stars and excel," she observed.

From a recent warm-up match, her impression has only strengthened. "It’s been astonishing and genuinely inspiring to see their development. I appreciate watching players improve from one season to the next. Domestic players in India have shown considerable growth, and I’m excited to see their progress over the next month," she commented.

DC has finished as runners-up three times in the WPL's brief history, but Lizelle doesn't believe in any associated curse. "I don’t think DC has a jinx. They have performed exceptionally well to reach the finals. It’s just a minor hurdle we need to overcome, and I hope to contribute to that. At the season's end, I aspire for us to lift the trophy as a team," she stated.

Signs point to Lizelle being instrumental in breaking that pattern; her unbeaten 77 off 44 balls was the highest individual score in a WBBL final, guiding the Hobart Hurricanes to an eight-wicket victory over the Perth Scorchers, earning the title for the first time.

"We’ve played at Ninja Stadium several times now. It’s one of those fields where it’s hard to gauge an adequate score, but it generally needs to be high. By restricting them to our total, we felt confident, and then our batting was on point. It was likely during the 10th and 11th overs that I believed it would be our game. Unfortunately, things didn’t go our way in the field, as we dropped several catches, but the bowlers performed admirably to keep them to a defensible total, allowing the batters to succeed," she explained.

As DC readies for another WPL season, they hope Lizelle’s experience and explosive batting at the top of the order will provide the spark they need to secure the title.