Chloe Ainsworth fires early in WBBL|12 after injury-free preseason
Ainsworth has taken more first-over wickets than any other bowler since joining the WBBL in 2023, and Cricket Australia handed her a 2026-27 national contract.
Perth Scorchers fast bowler Chloe Ainsworth dismissed Georgia Voll with the first ball of the innings on Thursday night, Cricket Australia said in a statement.
Three nights earlier at Junction Oval in Melbourne, the 21-year-old had removed Rhys McKenna, caught behind, with her first delivery.
Ainsworth has battled off-season injuries in previous summers, but she said she has now had a clean run into the 2026-27 season.
"I think this is the first time in my career that I've been able to have a solid block of work," Ainsworth said.
"I'm trying to control the new ball up front and be as dangerous as I can."
Since she joined the Women's Big Bash League in WBBL|09, no other bowler has taken more first-over wickets than Ainsworth.
She has struck in the first over nine times in 24 matches where she has opened the bowling.
Molly Strano has eight such wickets from 20 matches, and Lauren Cheatle has eight from 28, while Marizanne Kapp has seven from 28 and Megan Schutt has four from 16.
Ainsworth has played 39 Big Bash matches and taken 45 wickets at an average of 21, with an economy rate of 6.85.
She was named in the WBBL team of the tournament twice in her first three seasons.
Cricket Australia gave her a national contract for 2026-27 even though she has never been part of an Australian squad.
Her time with the national side has been limited, because Australia has spent much of the year touring, but she said her experience at squad camps at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane had been "ridiculous".
Scorchers and Western Australia coach Becky Grundy said Ainsworth had done a lot of work last season, but a late injury affected her player leave period.
"But she's had a really clean run at the preseason," Grundy said.
Grundy said the sky is the limit for Ainsworth, with bat as well as ball.
She described resilience as the quality that best sums up the bowler, adding that Ainsworth has had a bumpy road with injuries.
Sophie Devine, a former Australia captain, gave Ainsworth the nickname 'Dozer, short for Bulldozer.