Influx of female cricket players expected

Southern Spirit Cricket Club is expecting an influx of female cricketers with the promotion and funding of a Central Coast women's cricket competition.

Club secretary Mr Jack Wilson said women's and girl's cricket has been enjoying an unprecedented level of growth thanks to promotion and funding by the sport's governing bodies.

He said the growth had come with the launch of the Central Coast's first women's competition in 2018 and the recent announcement of the 2019-2020 Plan B Regional Bash by Cricket NSW.

"It's a great time to be involved in women's cricket in general with the sport seeing growth everywhere from the local to national level," Mr Wilson said.

He said Southern Spirit had always been a stalwart of women's cricket on the Coast, evidenced by the club's consistent girl's competition entries and ability to produce high quality players, such as former Spirit junior Sydney Sixers player Lauren Smith.

The club is now gearing up for their 2019-2020 season which will see them enter the Central Coast Women's Competition for the first time after just missing out last year and will again be focusing on developing their women's and girl's squads.

"We've got around 12 dedicated players for our women's squad and 14 players that make up our two girl's squads, so we're really well placed going into this season, but we could always use more players and would love to see some new faces when registrations open this July," Mr Wilson said.

Cricket NSW's inaugural Women's Plan B Regional Bash Competition was introduced following the Central Coast's win in the Men's Competition last year and to meet the rising demand for more pathways in the women's division.

Cricket NSW Central Coast Conference administrator Mr Garry Burkinshaw said he was excited about the competition.

"This competition is a fantastic opportunity for female cricketers not only on the Central Coast but also across the state," Mr Burkinshaw said.

"It is exciting that players from our local competitions will get the opportunity to not only represent the Central Coast but hopefully also get to play on the Sydney Cricket Ground," he said.

SOURCE:

Media release, 18 Jun 2019

Garry Burkinshaw, Cricket NSW

Interview (Dilon Luke), 18 Jun 2019

Jack Wilson, Southern Spirit Cricket Club