THERE'S no ignoring the scars The Hundred have given Danni Wyatt. The England international is about to embark on her third season with Southern Brave and the previous two ended in the pain of watching her opponents lift the trophy at Lords.
Twice, Wyatt believes her side have been the best in the tournament. And twice, they’ve reached the final, only to lose.
Now, following last week’s draft, Wyatt is heading back to the Ageas Bowl and she’s more determined than ever to heal those scars the only way possible: by winning it all.
READ MORE: Southern Brave vice-captain Chris Jordan eyeing new chapter of success
“It’s very frustrating to keep coming out on the losing end in those finals” Wyatt told the Daily Echo shortly after her return was confirmed.
“Everyone is absolutely gutted at the end of these finals. The last two have been horrible after we’ve been the best team throughout the tournament both years. To then go and lose the final twice has been very very hard to take.
“But we’re all going to remember the feeling of watching the other team lift that trophy and that will spur us on to go and want that even more.”
Despite the pain that naturally accompanies her experience with The Hundred, the emotion was pure excitement as Southern Brave’s preparations for a new season got under way in earnest with Thursday’s draft.
Australian batter Tim David and Wyatt were first picks for the Brave, both players being right to matched. New Zealand’s Devon Conway will also return after playing for Southern Brave in the first season while Leus du Plooy and Maitlan Brown will make their first appearances in green this summer.
Experienced captain Anya Shrubsole rejoins the side along with overseas stars Chloe Tryon and Maitlan Brown.
“I didn’t sleep very well last night” Wyatt tells the Daily Echo the morning following the draft. "I kept checking Twitter and Instagram. I woke up very excited this morning.
“It’s really exciting, I really enjoyed it - well once I got picked - I really enjoyed watching the draft. It’s something very different, not something we’re used to. Obviously there were a lot of nerves around but excitement as well.
“A lot of the girls, we were all messaging each other, talking about how such and such has gone there and she’s gone there. So yeah, it’s really exciting times. The start of something very special.”
With limited time to prepare ahead of the frantic five-week competition, it’s essential that Brave get things rolling immediately. Wyatt plays a notable role in that, in charge of helping some of the overseas arrivals acclimate with nights out and dinners.
Meanwhile, Charlotte Edwards - who Wyatt describes as ‘one of the best coaches in the world’ - is known in part for her barbecues with the Southern Brave squad.
“We play so much cricket now, we literally go from one tournament to the next and it’s a matter of adapting and feeling comfortable as soon as you can. The quicker the better and we spoke about this when The Hundred started: we want good people in our squad.
“Obviously you want good cricketers but it’s all about having good people as well and making people feel comfortable. That’s when you perform at your best. So creating that environment is really important as well.
“It’s just so important to bond, especially at the start of the tournament. Because when the games come thick and fast, it’s hard to go out, it’s more about relaxing and getting ready for the games. It’s important to have a good balance and a good team-y environment.
“Lottie (Charlotte Edwards) really does bring that fun element to the squad. She’s very good and very on it when it needs to happen but it’s so important to have fun and relax away from cricket. It’s so important and we’re going to make sure that’s the same for this summer.”
Ultimately, everything Edwards, Wyatt, and the Southern Brave are doing is about reaching the goal that has somehow - and barely - eluded them so far. There’s reason to believe this could finally be their year.
“Everyone in the team has won at least one trophy,” Wyatt says. “We’ve won a few with the Southern Vipers already, I’ve been part of Ashes wins, World Cup wins, so has Anya (Shrubsole), and that’s really important as well - we can pass on our experience - how you’re going to feel in finals.
“These girls have all played in front of big crowds, they know how to perform in front of big crowds, and perform under pressure so it’s just a matter of relaxing and nailing your skills on the day.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here