Kensington women’s cricketers Shae Daly and Rachel Church breaking down barriers

She answered the call to sub in after an injury but this cricketer did a lot more than just fill in for Kensington’s men’s team.

Kensington District Cricket Club’s First Grade women's players, Shae Daly (L) and Rachel Church. Daly was named Player of the Match after sub fielding in a men’s game, while Church became the third in the club’s 150-year history to be selected to line up in a men’s match. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Shae Daly knows girls can match it with the boys and is always determined to prove it.

The Kensington cricketer did just that this month when she answered a call from the Browns’ men’s C grade team.

Daly, formerly from Echunga, was asked to sub-field during the men’s C grade match against Adelaide University at Park 12 following an elbow injury to club great and veteran Jamie Panelli.

The right-arm off-spinner threw down the stumps a few times to later be named player of the match.

Kensington’s Rachel Church and Shae Daly. Both lined up with the Browns’ men’s teams this year. Picture: Keryn Stevens

“I was surprised (to be named player of the match),” Daly, 21, said

“I don’t think the boys in the team realised that I am actually a good fielder.

“It has nothing to do with being a girl.

“I got the sense they didn’t expect me to bring what I did but it is a lot of fun to field.

“I do enjoy the fact at Kensington we are a tight-knit club and I am making an effort to get the women more involved in the men’s events and vice-versa.”

It is not the first time Daly, now of Newton, has filled in for the club’s men’s side.

Late last year Daly, whose partner, fast bowler Cameron Fatchen lines up with Kensington’s A’s, sub fielded for the Browns’ men’s B grade.

“Cameron is very supportive,” Daly said.

“He knows I grew up playing alongside the boys and he knows how much I love the club.

“He loves that I played in the men’s side

“I want to impact in more ways than just being a girl playing cricket at the club.”

Meanwhile, rising star Rachel Church and Daly’s teammate, is also breaking down barriers in the sport.

Church became the third woman in the Browns’ 150-year history to be selected in a men’s team.

The 19-year-old, who featured in the C grade’s win against East Torrens on Saturday, was also the first named as a wicketkeeper.

She follows in the footsteps of Sarah Jamison, who was selected to line up in two D grade men’s games (2015/16, 2017/16) and Anna Silva who also played two third-grade men’s games in 2011.

Church, took three catches during the win, said being good enough to play alongside the men was an honour.

It comes two years after she became the first girl picked for powerhouse cricket school, Adelaide High’s first XI.

Church pictured in 2019 with Erik Carrington, Adelaide Cricket Club all-rounder Cam Valente and Tejas Gill. Picture: Keryn Stevens

“It’s a pretty big honour,” Church, 19, said.

“There’s a lot of history with the club and it’s a great club.

“It’s nice to be a part of it.

“It is different playing against the men but it’s a lot of fun.

“It’s nice seeing a different side of the game, the boys bowl a bit faster and the ball carriers through a bit more.

“The boys were really good, they gave me a lot of advice and backed me.”

Church, originally from Kangaroo Island, started playing cricket in the backyard with her older brother, Jack.

She hopes to continue improving with Kensington and is aiming to earn selection for the Scorpions or Strikers in the future.