SA Scorpions spinner Amanda-Jade Wellington will make history by playing men’s and women’s grade cricket — at different clubs
SA Scorpions cricketer Amanda-Jade Wellington will not only play in both Adelaide’s men’s and women’s grade competitions this season, but line up for two different clubs.
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One of Australia’s best female spinners will make history this season when she lines up in the SA Cricket Association’s men’s and women’s grade competitions – for different clubs.
Amanda-Jade Wellington, who has played one Test, 12 One-Day Internationals and eight Twenty20 Internationals, will split her time between Port Adelaide’s men and West Torrens’ women from this weekend, when she takes to the field for the Magpies’ male B grade.
Wellington has been with Port for nearly a decade and played three men’s games last season when its females forfeited, taking 4/60 off 16 overs in the Ds and 2/55 from 21 in the Bs.
But SACA removed the Magpies’ ladies from its grade competitions for 2019/20 in July because they failed to meet selection criteria requiring clubs to show they could fill two sides.
With Port keen to keep Wellington in its men’s ranks and the 22-year-old leg-spinner eager to stick around, SACA has allowed her to be registered at two clubs.
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The competitions rarely clash – men’s matches are typically on Saturdays and women’s games on Sundays – so she can play twice a weekend around her SA Scorpions commitments.
“I’m really excited to be the first person to do it,” Wellington, who joined West Torrens this week, told The Advertiser.
“I was really disappointed (at Port’s women’s team’s removal) but SACA has made the best decision for the competition and hopefully it will make it stronger.
“I had a conversation with (SA Scorpions coach) Luke Williams about playing both (men’s and women’s) and he said he had no problems with that.
“The challenge (of men’s cricket) appeals to me and I like the banter that they give … and having that battle.
“They’re trying to out-think you but they’re just scared you might be better than them.”
Wellington was 15 and 150 days in 2012 when she became the youngest player to represent SA in a senior match.
She is among a handful of women to have played in the state’s men’s grade competition but only one – England international wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor at Northern Districts in 2015 – has featured in the As in its 122-year history.
Wellington would love to become the second.
“It’d be awesome to play some of the Redbacks boys and Strikers boys,” she said.
“It would definitely be a big challenge but one I’m happy to take on.”
Wellington said she varied her pace and the types of deliveries she bowled to the men, bowling faster than against women.
She said her family loved watching her take on the guys.
“Dad (Ken) thinks I should go in there and show the boys up,” she said.
Wellington believed playing men’s cricket would improve her development and was hopeful she would soon return to the Australian team, where she last played in March 2018.
Port men’s coach Matthew Weeks said Wellington was a great character around the club and was being selected on merit.
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“She’s a ripper and we like what she brings to the table,” Weeks said.
SACA high-performance manager Tim Nielsen said Wellington’s situation was unprecedented.
“SACA supports the decision made by the Premier Cricket Committee to allow her to dual-register in the Premier Cricket competition,” Nielsen said.
“This means that she can maintain her connection with Port Adelaide, while also strengthening the women’s competition by playing first grade cricket with West Torrens.”
The Magpies are fielding a women’s team in a community competition this season and hope to return to SACA ranks in 2020/21.