Marizanne Kapp, 36, has withdrawn from WBBL 2026 with one year remaining on her Melbourne Stars contract. The South Africa all-rounder cited international commitments as the reason for stepping away from the upcoming season, which is the 12th edition of the Women’s Big Bash League and runs from October 29 to December 5, 2026.
The specific scheduling conflict involves South Africa’s Test match against India, set to begin on December 9, 2026. That fixture falls just four days after the WBBL 2026 final on December 5, making it impossible for Kapp to honour both commitments within the same window.
Melbourne Stars responded promptly by securing the services of England duo Dani Gibson and Amy Jones. Both players represented the Stars during WBBL 2025 and have now been confirmed for the 2026 campaign.
“It was a priority for us to have both Dani and Amy return this season, so we’re really pleased with this outcome. They are both very talented cricketers in multiple ways, which is so valuable in this format. We are bolstering our batting line-up with two different skillsets, while also gaining a wicket keeper and bowler. They both really enjoyed their time in Melbourne which is a great sign for our club and they’re committed to having success here,” said James Rosengarten, the Stars general manager as quoted by Cricinfo.
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How have the Stars addressed Kapp’s departure?
The Stars acknowledged Kapp’s absence openly while confirming the two England replacements. Kapp’s withdrawal removes a highly experienced international presence from the Stars’ squad. Her departure, however, has allowed the club to bring back two players who contributed meaningfully during WBBL 2025 and are familiar with the team’s setup and conditions.
“We are of course disappointed to be without someone of Marizanne’s calibre this season. She is one of the world’s finest all-round players but we understand her priorities at this stage and it will present another list opportunity for the Stars,” said Rosengarten.
What did Gibson and Jones contribute in WBBL 2025?
Both returning players carry solid recent form into the new season. Amy Jones scored 234 runs across 11 matches for the Stars in WBBL 2025, doing so at a strike rate of 125.80. Dani Gibson matched that consistency with 170 runs from 11 matches at a strike rate of 139.34 during the same campaign.
The numbers reflect two players who were productive and reliable contributors throughout the previous season. Their re-signing gives the Stars a settled core of experienced overseas talent as the club prepares for WBBL 2026, with the option to strengthen the international contingent further still available to the coaching staff.
