SA Scorpions and Adelaide Strikers leggie Amanda-Jade Wellington takes two wickets in men’s B-grade debut for Port Adelaide

Amanda-Jade Wellington continues to impress in Port Adelaide’s men’s ranks, becoming just the third woman to line up in one of SACA’s top two male grades. Port’s coach says more grade clubs should give star females an opportunity in the men’s competition.

SA Scorpions and Adelaide Strikers leg-spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington continues to play well in men’s ranks for Port Adelaide, taking two wickets in the Bs on Saturday. Picture: AAP/Keryn Stevens

Amanda-Jade Wellington continues to impress in Port Adelaide’s men’s ranks, becoming just the third woman to line up in one of SACA’s top two male grades.

The SA Scorpions and Adelaide Strikers leg-spinner lined up in the Magpies’ B grade on Saturday, snaring 2/55 from 20 overs against Adelaide at Glandore Oval.

Wellington, 21, was promoted from Port’s Ds, where she topscored with 41 and took 1/29 off eight in her men’s debut last month then backed it up with 3/31 from eight the following match.
With the Magpies’ women forfeiting a fourth consecutive game due to lack of numbers and the men’s Bs needing a spinner, men’s senior coach Matthew Weeks rewarded Wellington for her performances and gave her a crack in a higher grade.

Amanda-Jade Wellington playing D grade for Port Adelaide last month. Picture: AAP/Keryn Stevens

Amanda-Jade Wellington bowling for Port’s men’s D grade last month. Picture: AAP/Keryn Stevens

Former Australian star Karen Rolton also lined up in Port’s Bs in the early 2000s and England wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor became the only female to play men’s A grade in SA in 2015 when she kept for Northern Districts.

Weeks said more grade clubs should give star females an opportunity in men’s teams and pick their best XIs on merit.

“Amanda is a female cricketer but we don’t view her as that, we see her as a player,” Weeks said.

“I’m not going to judge people on their sex or religion or anything, it’s purely on numbers and how they can play a role with the team.

England wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor is the only woman to play a men’s A-grade match in SA. It was for Northern Districts against Port Adelaide in 2015. Picture: Stephen Laffer

“We just pick the best XI.

“She’d performed well in the Ds so we thought ‘why not?’

“She handled herself really well, so credit to her.

“Male or female, if someone is good enough to play in a certain grade, I don’t know why other clubs wouldn’t do it.”
Wellington has played one Test, 12 One-Day Internationals and eight Twenty20s for Australia but not been selected for her country in almost 12 months.

She was picked in Port’s men’s B grade in February last season, only for the game to be abandoned without her taking to the field.

Wellington sought another opportunity in male ranks once the Magpies forfeited their women’s clash with Northern Districts, leading to her selection in the Ds against Prospect on February 16.

Weeks said Wellington’s competitiveness and “buy in” to men’s cricket had impressed him.

In the early 2000s, Karen Rolton played C-grade men’s cricket for Port Adelaide. She is pictured here in a men’s match against Northern Districts.

“She’s a good cricketer who wants to play and improve her cricket, and she offers a lot,” he said.

“She’s excellent to have around the group.

“She’s such a competitor, she’s willing to learn and learns quickly.”

Last week Wellington said playing with Port’s women remained her club cricket priority but she was enjoying the challenge of playing and banter with the guys.

As for whether she could play men’s A grade, Weeks said time would tell.

“If a few spinners weren’t bowling well up top and she was bowling beautifully, knocking the door down, I wouldn’t be opposed to it,” he said.

“We just have to see how she’s tracking.

“First thing’s first, we need to see what happens with the women but if she plays men’s, we’d have to play it by ear, see how she’s bowling and see how she can influence the team.”

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