The Adelaide Strikers have bolstered their batting line-up for their WBBL|10 title defence with the signing of exciting young talent Ellie Johnston on a one-year deal.
Johnston, a right-handed batter keeper known for her explosive power hitting arrives at the Strikers after two seasons with the Brisbane Heat.
A top-order batter, Johnston showcased her talent in WBBL|08 with a dazzling 54 runs from just 34 balls (including three boundaries and four sixes) against the Melbourne Stars in a Player of the Match performance. This knock underlines her impressive T20 strike rate of 116.49.
The 21-year-old Queenslander has already made her mark on the national stage, representing the Governor-General's XI against the touring Pakistan women's team in 2023 and going on to be part of the winning Warriors team in the prestigious FairBreak Invitational held in Hong Kong that same year.
Johnston's journey to cricket is as unique as her talent. Raised on a dairy farm in the rural town of Kaimkillenbun, her cricketing passion was ignited by her favourite primary school teacher who recognised her natural sporting ability.
Excited about the new opportunity, Johnston expressed her enthusiasm, "I'm stoked to be joining the Adelaide Strikers! The team's success is something I've admired for a long time, and I can't wait to contribute with both bat and gloves. I'm looking forward to getting out there in front of the Strikers fans at Karen Rolton Oval and Adelaide Oval and hopefully creating some special memories together."
Strikers Head Coach Luke Williams is delighted to welcome Johnston to the squad: "Ellie is a young player with immense potential. Her explosive hitting at the top of the order will add real depth and flexibility to our line-up. We're excited to see her develop her skills further with the Strikers and play a key role in our WBBL|10 campaign."
The Strikers start their championship defence in WBBL|10 with a blockbuster re-match of last season's grand final against Brisbane Heat as part of a double-header at Adelaide Oval on Sunday, October 27.
The Strikers then return to Adelaide Oval for a meeting with Hobart Hurricanes on November 16 as part of the WBBL's Stadium Series, with home games also at Karen Rolton Oval against Melbourne Renegades (November 11) and Perth Scorchers (November 19) for the Aunty Faith Thomas Trophy in First Nations Round.