New-look SA Scorpions looking forward to starting WNCL season on a high against NSW Breakers
The state’s best female cricketers will start their 2019-20 summer of cricket with their first game on Sunday. And the extended squad includes a few surprise faces.
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New-look SA Scorpions are full of confidence heading into the 2019-20 Women’s National Cricket League campaign, thanks to a tough pre-season, a revamped squad and a pinch of international star power.
The Scorpions take on reigning WNCL champions NSW Breakers on Sunday at Karen Rolton Oval and one of the world’s best cricketers will be there, making her debut in SA’s distinctive red.
New Zealand’s big-hitting all-rounder Suzie Bates — who captains Adelaide Strikers in the Women’s Big Bash League — said she was thrilled her schedule could align with the start of the WNCL. She will play two games for the “Scorps”.
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“I said if it was going to fit in and I was able to play then I’d like to play as much as I can,” she said. “I love 50-over cricket, it’s nice as an all-rounder to have more opportunity with ball and bat.”
Bates, the ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year in 2013 and 2016, flew into Adelaide on Wednesday and joined the Scorpions yesterday for her first training session. She spent the winter playing with the Southern Vipers in England’s Kia Super League alongside fellow Scorpion, leg-spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington, and said it was exciting to return to Adelaide and meet newcomers Emma de Broughe, Stacey Oates and Darcie Brown and train under new coach Luke Williams and assistant Jude Coleman.
“The intensity is high and the new coaches bring a freshness — everyone’s excited and raring to go,” she said.
The three recruits have been selected in a 13-player squad that will be trimmed by match day. The squad does not include captain Megan Schutt who is unavailable for selection because of international duties.
Instead, Australia A player Tahlia McGrath will take the reins. McGrath, 23, said she was honoured to take on the captaincy. “I felt as though the leadership side of my game was an area I wanted to develop, so to step up and take on this will role will be hugely beneficial for my game,” she said.
Veteran wicketkeeper Tegan McPharlin said the new coaching staff were working really well together.
“They complement each other really nicely and provide a relaxed training environment in a fun way but know when to be serious,” she said. “It’s been a really tough pre-season. I, for one, am really glad it’s over and looking forward to getting into the new season.”
McPharlin was feeling good moving into the new WNCL season.
“I’m just loving my cricket,” she said. “I’m happy with how my own personal pre-season has gone, how I’m hitting the ball, how I’m catching the ball, so if I can put it all out on the park on Sunday, that will be good.”