Margaret Peden Shield: the ultimate guide to the girls’ under 15 state championships
NSW’s premier under 15 girls representative competition kicks off next week with the Margaret Peden Shield. We’ve taken a look at all the clubs, as well as the players to watch.
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Sharp cricketing eyes will be on the lookout for the next Alyssa Healy, Ellyse Perry and Meg Lanning when the Margaret Peden Shield starts next week.
The competition is NSW’s premier representative cricket tournament for under 15 girls, and this season 14 teams from across Sydney and regional NSW will take part.
Kicking off with T20 fixtures on Monday 19 December at 4pm, the teams will play a series of T20 and 50-over matches over the course of December and January, with the grand final to be played on 26 January.
We’ve previewed all of the clubs involved, their strengths and players to watch.
Bankstown
With all the girls available, Bankstown expect to be competing in the finals.
Players to watch:
Aleisha Rutherford
A complete cricketer. Aleisha bowls lightning quick, stump to stump, and is super fast in the field and swings the willow with both power and finesse. And when time permits, she loves to share in cricket’s banter and camaraderie.
Camryn Harland
Camryn is blessed with a very old head on young shoulders. Known to bamboozle batters with superlative lines at varying pace, she’s also a first rate fielder. With a proven front foot style, Camryn loves to demolish anything pitched full of a length.
Jess Robertson
Jess is another energy packed dynamic batter and fielder. An opener in Bankstown’s Brewer Shield, Jess has amassed runs as one of the competition‘s youngest players. Courageous and eager, she always offers plenty of support to her teammates.
Blacktown
Blacktown will enter its first Margaret Peden Shield campaign with plenty of confidence, with the club’s excellent girls’ cricket program ensuring that the team will come into the tournament with plenty of cricket underneath their belts.
A well-rounded team that is good in the field, Blacktown’s strength nevertheless lies in its batting, with a number of good hitters in the top order.
The team will kick off its campaign against Inner West Harbour Blue at Kensington Oval on Monday at 4pm.
Players to watch:
Vani Bhadana
A dominant top-order batter who comes into the tournament in great nick.
Bhadana has scored three 50s, two 70s and one century so far this season, and will be hoping to carry that form into the Shield.
Aarna Patel
As an opening batter and wicketkeeper, Patel has one of the most important roles in the side.
With a positive attitude and as someone always keen to learn and improve, she is a huge asset to the side.
Pakhi Singh
A very accurate opening bowler who poses a threat with her great consistency.
With the ability to regular hit a good length, she understand her role in the team very well.
Camden
After having just a handful of girls last year and entering a joint team with Bankstown, Camden is another district reaping the benefits of its extensive girls’ cricket program with a team of its own this season.
The team will take a pace-heavy attack into the tournament, with a number of good seamers set to cause plenty of headaches for the opposition.
Camden will take on Sutherland St George in its first match at Tonkin Park in Cronulla on Monday afternoon at 4pm.
Players to watch:
Ava Gaughan
She might only be 12, but Gaughan is by far the tallest player in the team.
An excellent batter who will come into the tournament on the back of plenty of runs in school cricket, Gaughan also uses her height to get some extra bounce from her handy medium-pace bowling.
Bella Stevens
The captain of the side will be key to Camden’s success.
A natural hitter of the ball, Stevens has the potential to go big and bat long into the innings.
Jessica McMillan
The opening bowler is one of the team’s major strike weapons, with her fast swing bowling expected to cause plenty of headaches for opposition batters.
Still only 14, McMillan has plenty of experience against older cricketers as she opens the bowling for Camden’s Brewer Shield side in the under-18 competition.
Central Coast
Last year’s runners up will be among the teams to beat this year with a core of the squad remaining on for the current campaign.
A tight unit with great team spirit, the Central Coast has been training the house down during the pre- and early season, placing a focus on getting the one per centers right during games.
The team will kick off its campaign against Newcastle on Monday at 4pm at Fagans Park in Point Clare.
Players to watch:
Rejoice Mudavose
Excellent with the gloves, the wicketkeeper has been one of the team’s biggest improvers over the past six months, with her experience set to be crucial for the team.
Mudavose will also contribute with the bat in the middle order.
Alex-Bobbi Smith
A triple threat, Smith is a highly valued member of the team who can do just about everything on a cricket field.
A hard-hitting top-order batter, Smith is not only also a very handy medium pace bowler but one of the best infielders in junior cricket.
Ava Drury
An excellent leader and well-respected teammate, the Central Coast captain is crucially important to the team’s success.
In a sign of her ability, the opening batter was recently selected in the NSW Country under 16 team, and contributes with the ball with left-arm finger spinners.
Greater Illawarra
With an experienced squad who have enjoyed a great lead-up to the tournament, Greater Illawarra is expected to give the Margaret Peden Shield a real shake this season.
While traditionally entering fairly young teams, all bar three of this season’s squad are in the under 15s bracket, with a fair chunk of the players recently taking part in the under 16s country championships and around half regularly playing Brewer Shield (under 18) cricket on the weekends.
Their first game will be against Bankstown at Bradman Oval in Bowral on Monday at 4pm.
Players to watch:
Cadence Waters
One of four potential opening bowlers in the fantastic pace attack, Waters is also a key source of runs for the team and will bat in the top order.
If this isn’t enough, she is also excellent in the field and will look to save her team extra runs with her athleticism.
Ella Yates and Jessica Bramble
It’s impossible to split the two, who in addition to Bramble also form part of the team’s extended opening bowling attack.
Yates was selected in the under 16 NSW Country squad and is expected to do very well at this level, while at six foot one, Bramble uses her height to generate some extra bounce and cause batters all sorts of headaches.
Nicola Hudson
An aggressive scorer, the opening batter comes into the tournament in great form after having scored heavily in the local competition.
If she gets going she will be a major factor behind any success Greater Illawarra have.
Hornsby Ku-ring-gai and Hills
After a couple of years without a Peden Shield team, 2022/23 marks the return of Hornsby Ku-ring-gai & Hills.
The team’s return is a boon for the district, which has put in a number of years of hard work into building up girls’ cricket in the northern district of Sydney.
The team will open its account against Inner West Harbour Gold at Parklands Oval at Mount Colak on Monday at 4pm.
Inner West Harbour (IWCWSE) Gold
One of two Inner West Harbour sides entered into the tournament, the Gold team have an abundance of talent approaching senior grade standard, are expected to feature in the latter stages of the competition.
They will play their first game against Hornsby Ku-ring-gai and Hills at Parklands Oval in Mount Colah.
Players to watch:
Annya Siingh
One of several experienced players in the squad, the captain is developing her skills through the under 15 NSW Pathways program.
An accomplished right-hander, Annya also opens the batting for Northern District in the under 18 Brewer Shield competition and last week scored 47 runs. If that’s not enough, she also adds value with her stump to stump mediums.
Emily Powell
Another pathways batter who will assist guiding the side.
A right-hand opener, Emily has dominated for Sydney in the Brewer Shield this season with a string of top scores, including 106 against Northern District.
Skye Halmarick
The ultimate all-rounder. Another Brewer Shield rep for Sydney, Skye is a new ball quick and destructive batter.
She is also a promising soccer player, and will miss the middle portion of the Peden season due to commitments in the UK.
Hannah Rose
The all-rounder bring plenty of balance to the team with her right-arm pace bowling and damaging middle order power hitting.
Inner West Harbour (IWCWSE) Blue
The association’s blue team consists of many who have joined the squad from last season’s Mollie Dive competition.
While containing plenty of talented young cricketers, the objective of the Blue team is to continue focusing on player development.
The team kicks off its campaign against Blacktown at Kensington Oval.
Players to watch:
Alice Calov
In a sign of her ability, the team’s captain has recently been introduced to the Sydney Brewer Shield squad.
A top order specialist, she is making a name for herself with an ability to construct an innings. With the ball, she bowls first change seamers.
Sophie Bush
One to keep an eye on. Diminutive in stature, she is one of the youngest in the squad, but her right-arm leg spin is known to cause plenty of havoc.
Ruby Dickerson
The wicketkeeper-batter plays a key role in the team.
Not only is her glovework important, Dickerson is also a competent middle order right hander capable of working the field.
Manly Warringah
After just missing out on a spot in last season’s finals, Manly have several stars backing up and welcome a handful from the Mollie Dive squad.
Flush with batters who can all bowl, Manly could be a genuine threat.
They take on North Shore in their opening match at Graham Reserve in Manly.
Players to watch:
Hannah Moss
The wicketkeeper-batter arrives in good form, having struck 48 not out and 42 in recent outings for Manly in the under 18s Brewer Shield.
Measured and insightful, the right-hander can manipulate the field and hit hard when needed.
Arabella Handley
A cousin of rising under 19 World Cup star Lachlan Shaw, Handley is from proven cricketing stock.
She is a right-arm quick and power hitter who recently became the first female at Barker College to captain an underage boys team.
Annabelle Croll
Another keeper, the multiskilled Croll is part of both the under 15 NSW cricket and state soccer academies.
The goalkeeper is just as useful with the bat, and smashed 57 for Manly in last season’s Mollie Dive final.
Lara Hughes
The right-arm off spinner is currently advancing her skills for Manly in the Brewer Shield. Returns after strong performances in last season’s tournament.
North Shore
North Shore weren’t too far off the pace in 2021-22, and with a squad loaded with academy talent, they’ll be looking to build on last season’s semi-final appearance.
North Shore will kick things off against Manly Warringah at Graham Reserve.
Players to watch:
Elizabeth Yates
The skipper is a right-arm quick and handy middle order batter with a passion for fielding.
Selected in the NSW under 15 academy squad on the basis of her performances last season, she has also kicked on to play Brewer Shield with Gordon.
Sam Kuncham and Eliza McLeod
We found it impossible to split the left-handers who head up the side’s batting talent.
Sam is a powerful striker of the ball who likes to dominate the bowling while Eliza is an experienced opener and wicketkeeper, who last season finished as the side’s top run scorer.
Madeline Winslow
The pace bowler is another academy rep and just one of the North Shore’s many excellent bowling options. Of the slow bowlers, right-arm leg spinner Zoe Twining and offie Varada Vinay are two to keep an eye on.
Mayher Singh
An all-rounder, Mayher is a member of the NSW under 16s nationals squad. A top order right-hand batter, the leg spinner is the side’s x-factor and is already making a name for herself in women’s second grade.
Newcastle
Newcastle have their eyes on the prize this season with a good mix of talent that includes five from last year’s squad and seven or eight from last season’s undefeated Mollie Dive-winning side.
With a well-rounded team in terms of batting and bowling, the Newcastle side has placed high importance on the one per centers like fielding and running the between the wickets to give them an edge this season.
Their first game is against the Central Coast at Fagans Park at Point Clare.
Players to watch:
Caoimhe Bray
Still only 13, Bray is a star of the future who was recently represented NSW Country at the under 19 national championships in Perth.
One of the fastest junior bowlers in Newcastle, Bray is also a hard-hitting, aggressive batter who has a fear of having a strike rate of less than 100.
Felicity Wharton
Last year’s Mollie Dive captain will skipper the Peden Shield side this season.
A constant wicket threat with her fast bowling, Wharton is also a steady middle order batter who is an expert at steadying the ship and batting through the innings.
Laura Knipe
A top order batter who scores very quickly when she gets going, Knipe doesn’t just affect the scoreboard with the bat in hand.
As an excellent, energetic wicketkeeper, she saves her team plenty of runs every week behind the stumps.
Parramatta
Parramatta will take a well-balanced and formidable side into the tournament.
With a battery of fast bowlers and a selection of wily spinners, opposition batters will be in for a tough time. Coupled with an extraordinarily deep batting line-up, the side is confident of a strong showing against all opponents.
The team’s first game will be against Penrith at Monty Bennett Oval in Wentworthville.
Players to watch:
Gunisha Garg
The side’s skipper and pocket rocket. When she’s done with bowling prodigious inswingers with the new ball, she bunkers down at the top of the order with control and discipline.
As captain, Gunisha has a cricketing maturity beyond her years, and is constantly probing the opposition for weaknesses.
Shiloh Julien
A highly skilful all-rounder who bowls accurate and well-varied off spin. Meanwhile with bat in hand, she has all the shots in the book.
A keen student of the game, Julien invariably finds innovative ways to get the better of her opponent.
Neha Joshua
She might be one of the side’s youngest players, yet bats with forceful intent and bowls with lively pace.
Rapidly developing as an elite junior cricketer, Neha plays on both sides of the wicket and will be hard to contain in this tournament.
Penrith
Taking a young but relatively experienced side into this year’s Peden Shield, Penrith are quietly confident of an improved performance this season.
Around half a dozen of the squad are playing under 18s in the Brewer Shield, while a couple even play second grade in the premier women’s competition for Penrith.
The team has a strong bowling unit, with a dangerous pace attack and a couple of handy spinners set to cause opponents plenty of headaches.
They take on Parramatta in their first game at Monty Bennett Oval at Wentworthville.
Players to watch:
Annabel Batty
The wicketkeeper-batter is one of the top talents in the squad, and is one of those playing second grade in the women’s competition.
Greater with the gloves and an excellent striker of the ball, Batty will be key to Penrith’s success.
McKenzie Wheeler
A genuine all-rounder is worth their weight in gold, and Penrith have an excellent one in Wheeler.
As a damaging batter and someone who takes plenty of wickets by bowling with good pace at the stumps, she is likely to trouble the scorers with the both the bat and ball during the tournament.
Isabella Bradley-Labra
An opening bowler who sends the ball down the other end with plenty of pace, Bradley-Labra is another serious wicket-taking threat.
She’ll also enter the tournament in good form, having recently taken 5-8 in the Brewer Shield.
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