Brooke Harris headlines list of players who switched club’s ahead of this women’s cricket season
A women’s cricketer who won the top tier best and fairest almost two seasons ago has switched clubs to help reignite her passion for the sport ahead of the 2019-20 local campaign.
Local Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Club wants SA women’s star to play men’s cricket
- How to get the most out of your Advertiser digital subscription
Cricketer Brooke Harris had just come off a career-best year with West Torrens.
She won the 2017-18 grade cricket Karen Rolton Medal as the women’s top-tier best and fairest, before helping the Eagles win the Twenty20 and the 50-over grand finals.
But Harris’s love for the game and her form with West Torrens then took a turn for the worse that following season.
The 22-year-old, who lost her contract with the Scorpions for the 2019-20 Women’s National Cricket League, was ready to quit the sport at the end of last summer.
Then a catch-up with Sturt a few months ago changed her mind.
Stream every game of the 2019/20 A-League season LIVE and on-demand with Kayo Sports. Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
She will now take to the field with the Blues as they start their one-day title defence in November.
The women’s Twenty20 campaign begins this Sunday and Sturt takes on Kensington.
“Last year I just wasn’t enjoying my cricket and I hated turning up to every game,” Harris, of Fulham Gardens, says.
“It had nothing to do with the girls at West Torrens.
“I think I wasn’t enjoying the pressure of the Scorpions and I probably brought not enjoying that to club cricket.
“I thought I’d stop playing sport, but then the Sturt coach took me out for coffee and twisted my arm and decided to get me on board.
“It was the hardest decision I’ve ever made.
“I had been at West Torrens since I was young and my family is still heavily involved there.
“But going from winning the best and fairest and two grand finals, then having the season I had last year – I knew I needed a change.”
Harris is not the only player who has switched clubs ahead of this season.
Former Port Adelaide bowler Sarah Ferris jumped to Kensington after the Magpies were removed from women’s grade competitions.
MORE LOCAL CRICKET NEWS
Women’s star loving banter, challenge of men’s ranks
Wellington stars for Port’s men as women forfeit
England keeper becomes first female in top men’s comp
In July, the SA Cricket Association announced Port would not be part of a restructured A or B-grade in the 2019/20 season due to forfeiting seven of its 10 women’s matches in 2018/19 through a lack of players.
The restructure has reduced the women’s A grade competitions to five teams: Kensington, Sturt, Northern Districts, Southern District and West Torrens.
It has also led to one team having a bye each week.
Ferris, 19, featured with the Browns for six years before spending last season with Port.
“I am hoping to bowl a lot more and get more opportunities,” Ferris, of Tranmere, says.
“The feeling there is really good and we are a really strong, organised team.”
Kensington will take on Sturt at home when the Twenty20 women’s competition starts this Sunday, while Northern Districts and Southern District will battle and West Torrens has the bye.