Under-19 National Cricket Championships: Meet the 26 young guns representing NSW Metro and Country
The next generation of Australian cricket will be on show this week at the under-19 Women’s National Championships in Brisbane. Meet the 26 NSW players representing Metro and Country.
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One week after the men wrapped up a thrilling tournament in Albury, it’s time for the best young women in Australian cricket to show their stuff at the under-19 National Championships in Brisbane.
Two squads from NSW – representing Metro and Country – will travel to the Queensland capital to take on the country’s top young talent, with the carnival kicking off on 14 December and running through to 21 December.
Coming off an undefeated campaign last year in Perth, Metro will be looking to defend their title.
Meanwhile Country have an eye on the future with an exciting young side full of potential looking to shake up the tournament.
Ahead of the tournament, meet the 26 NSW players set to line up in Brisbane.
From Thursday, click here for SCORES and LIVE VIDEO.
NSW METRO
ELSA HUNTER – GORDON
Knows what’s required after playing an important role at the top of the order during last season’s successful campaign in Perth.
Now at home in the No.3 spot for Gordon after transferring from Penrith, the calm right-hander is also a handy wicket taking option with the ball.
No stranger to the international stage, Elsa has represented Malaysia and will call on that experience as one of Metro’s leaders.
LAUREN KUA – MANLY
Arrives in Brisbane as one of Metro’s form players after posting 108 in Manly’s top grade last weekend.
All power and class, the right-hander is damaging on either side of the wicket and with a brisk strike rate will be one coach Sarah Aley counts on to generate early momentum.
Another of the squad’s leaders, Kua also gives the ball a big rip and has taken nine wickets with her leg-spin this season.
KATE PELLE – PARRAMATTA
In a sign of things to come, the hard-hitting keeper recently set foot on the WBBL stage with the Sydney Sixers.
Set the scene last summer with several blistering knocks at the nationals, before being named in the Australian squad for the U19 T20 World Cup in South Africa.
Fearless in both disciplines, Pelle arrives in Brisbane refreshed after a recent break from the grade scene.
ZOE MURDOCH – PARRAMATTA
Considered unlucky to miss the trip to Perth last year, Murdoch will be desperate to showcase her all-round class over the coming weeks.
Tall and strong, the technically sound right-hander has a season high 64 where she has been a feature against the new ball in Parramatta’s top grade.
With the ball, the 19-year-old is a proven wicket-taker, having bagged 13 at 15.9 with her brisk medium pace.
ELLA BRISCOE – ST GEORGE-SUTHERLAND
Another rapidly rising all-rounder, Briscoe took another step forward this summer with selection in the Sydney Thunder squad.
Still only 18, the right-armer bowls a heavy ball and picked up a crucial wicket in last season’s U19 grand final victory over Victoria Country at the WACA.
A force with the stick in the middle order, she can switch from a measured approach to high-octane anger within the blink-of-an-eye.
FRANKIE NICKLIN – SYDNEY UNIVERSITY
Primarily a top-order batter Nicklin is full of surprises and showed as much last summer, stunning the ACT with a hat-trick in Perth.
A clever accumulator of runs, the right-hander has multiple fifties against her name for Sydney University and is just as adept at No.3 or opening the innings.
Can handle pressure, and in last year’s final posted a crucial 53.
LUCY FINN ST GEORGE – SUTHERLAND
After playing a fringe role last season, Finn returns to the U19 nationals bigger and better.
Still only 16, the towering all-rounder has made the most of limited opportunities with the bat in first grade for St George-Sutherland, scoring 119 at a touch under 40.
Hits a hard length in attack, and in Brisbane will aim to slow the run rate.
EVA RAGG – SYDNEY
The Sydney Cricket Club opener started the season on fire with 56 in the opening round off just 47 deliveries.
A proven boundary hitter in T20, the right-hander can also stabilise an innings in the longer format and will be eager to make the most of her opportunities in Brisbane.
HAYLEY ZAUCH – SYDNEY
Another of Sydney’s lengthy list of rising stars, Zauch started the season in the U18s Brewer Shield before stepping up to second grade where she averages 32.7 with the bat.
Doubles as a wicketkeeper and can expect to learn plenty with time under Pelle’s wing.
ALEX MAVROS – UTS NORTH SYDNEY
A genuine quick, Mavros transitioned from Parramatta to Norths in the off season where she plays second grade alongside sisters Sophia and Aurora.
Made the trip to Perth last summer, and with an extra year under her belt will count of Brisbane’s humidity to unleash her dangerous outswing.
LUCY WILSON – PARRAMATTA
A former Brewer Shield player of the season, Wilson is a tall right-armer with a growing reputation.
Injury has limited her time with the ball this season, but she showed her versatility with a classy 73 in second grade.
Now a first grade regular, those in the know at Parra believe she is destined for higher honours.
SARA CHUN – GORDON
Said to be inspired by the positive mindset Marnus Labuschagne, Chun is fast opening doors with her left-arm orthodox.
Last season she picked up 11 first grade wickets for Gordon, before upping the anti in round two this season. Against a full strength Parramatta, Chun bowled her side to victory taking a remarkable 6-19 in a spell that included a hat-trick.
JULIETTE MORTON – ST GEORGE-SUTHERLAND
A right-arm leggie, Morton took a confident building season best 4-11 in first grade last week.
Consistently finishes among the wickets and this season averages 12.6.
With an economy rate of less than four per over, she could be about to bowl plenty of overs.
NSW COUNTRY
It will be a young but talented NSW Country team that makes it way to Brisbane for the national championships, with selectors keeping an eye on the future by picking a youthful side for the tournament.
“We’re a young team this year, we’ve got some players who’ve come from the under-16 tournament last year, so it’s a step up to the under-19s,” said coach Hannah Trethewy.
“Obviously it’s a high-performance tournament so we do hope to have really good performances on the field, but if anything we’re also looking to use it for development and really work with this group of players over the next couple of years given that they are quite young.”
Led by 17-year-old star batter Kate McTaggart and featuring the likes of talented spinner Sienna Eve and 14-year-old prodigy Caoimhe Bray, what the team lacks in experience it makes up for in firepower.
“I think there will be some really great individual performances which I hope in turn can lead to some really good team performances,” said Trethewy.
In particular, the coach is hopeful that the team’s energetic fast bowlers will be able to ruffle some feathers and announce themselves on the national stage.
“I think we’ve got a pretty good pace attack. We’ve got an exciting left-arm fast bowler and a young 14-year-old right-arm fast bowler,” she said. “What’s exciting is that we’ve got some young fast bowlers who actually want to bowl fast, which is even better.”
KATE MCTAGGART – NEWCASTLE
Still just 17, McTaggart will skipper the side in what is a ringing endorsement of not only her ability but also leadership qualities.
Described as “one-person team” by Newcastle rep coach Tommy Anderson, the top-order batter and medium-pace bowler has already had a strong summer at rep level, starring for Newcastle in the under-19s Country Championships and then helping the Newcastle Blasters to victory in the Country Bash.
She’s also in the top few run scorers in the Sydney first grade competition, coming in fresh from scoring an excellent 73 for Northern District on the weekend.
Country officials will be hoping McTaggart can lead from the front with plenty of runs to put her side on the front foot, while the 17-year-old will be looking to transfer her excellent club and rep form onto the national stage.
KEISHA BALDWIN – GREATER ILLAWARRA
A particularly dangerous bowler when she can get the ball swinging, Baldwin will be hoping for favourable bowling conditions in Brisbane.
In addition to her skills with the ball, Baldwin is also a handy batter who lines up in the top order for Greater Illawarra.
CALLEE BLACK – WESTERN
The left-arm quick will spearhead the Country attack and look to use her pace to make early inroads in opposition top orders.
Also a strong batter who comes in at the top of the order for Western, Black will be a key source of runs for the side.
CAOIMHE BRAY – CENTRAL NORTH
Still just 14, Bray is an absolute superstar in the making.
A very sharp right-arm bowler and excellent attacking batter, she has taken the Brewer Shield (under-18) competition by storm this season, scoring 381 runs and taking 19 wickets for Greater Hunter Coast to sit first and second on the run scorer and wicket-taking charts, respectively.
Also a talented goalkeeper who recently attended a Junior Matildas camp in Canberra, Bray will be hoping to continue the form that saw her finish the under-19 Country Championships as the leading run scorer.
“Being able to play high-level sport in two sports for her – in soccer and cricket – is really a credit to her,” said Trethewy.
“She’s got so much natural talent but she works really hard. We’re certainly excited to see where she goes but the best thing is that she always walks on the field with a big smile on her face.”
OLIVIA CALLAGHAN – GORDON
One of three Metro players drafted into the Country squad for the tournament, Callaghan is a top-order batter and off-spinner who’ll be looking to contribute with both the bat and ball.
After scoring an excellent 45 not out for Gordon against the Sydney Cricket Club and chiming in with handy wickets, Callaghan will hope to bring that form into the tournament.
SIENNA EVE – NEWCASTLE
The left-arm orthodox spinner will be one of the team’s leaders in what is her final national carnival at under-19 level.
A Basil Sellers scholarship holder who missed this year’s under-19 country titles after being selected for the prestigious Lanning v Perry Series, Eve’s tight and economical bowling will be key to Country’s success.
“This is Sienna’s final tournament so she’ll certainly lead our spin group,” said Trethewy.
“She’s got a lot of experience and a lot of talent, so we really hope to see her put in some really great individual performances, and hopefully she can guide our younger spinners coming through with some plans, tactics and things like that.”
TARA FRENCH – CENTRAL COAST
A key member of Country’s pace bowling attack who can also more than hold her own with the bat, French provides the side with great balance.
Sitting in the top-10 wicket-takers in the NSW Premier Cricket women’s first grade competition, French was also named player of the match in last month’s Country Bash final, taking a quite brilliant 3-7 from four overs and then hitting 19 with the bat as the Newcastle Blasters recorded a thrilling final-over win against the Riverina Bullets.
ELIZA HENRY – MANLY WARRINGAH
Another one of the Metro contingent, Henry is a middle-order batter and off-spin bowler who has been among both the runs and wickets for Manly in first grade this season.
EMILY HUMPHREYS – CENTRAL COAST
The right-arm off-spinner has enjoyed an excellent summer so far, firstly co-captaining the Central Coast to victory in the under-19s Country Championships, where she was incredibly dangerous with the ball and chimed in with some runs at crucial stages of big games.
Humphreys has taken that form into club cricket with Northern Districts, currently sitting in the top-five wicket-takers in the women’s second grade competition, despite missing three matches this season.
KINJAL KUMARI – GORDON
The third of the Metro trio donning Country colours, Kumari is a top-order batter and wicketkeeper who plays first grade cricket for Gordon the Sydney competition.
With all the shots in the book and safe gloves behind the stumps, she’ll be looking to make an impact at the nationals.
DELANEY LAFFY – RIVERINA
A key source of both runs and wickets, the all-rounder from the Riverina is another that adds great balance to the Country squad.
A member of the Riverina Bullets team that went down to Newcastle in the Country Bash final, Laffy was also one of the Riverina rep team’s most consistent performers with both bat and ball in the season-opening under-19s Country Championships.
SAMIRA MITCHELL – NORTH COASTAL
An attacking top order batter who can be quite destructive when she gets her eye in, Mitchell has the potential to provide the side with some X-factor with the bat.
The young gun from Taree will come into the tournament in good touch, fresh from an excellent 52 for Gordon against Penrith in the Sydney first grade competition.
AVA RYAN – NORTH COASTAL
Another strong top-order batter from the North Coastal zone is South West Rocks’ Ava Ryan.
Not only an accomplished batter, Ryan – who captained the North Coastal under-19s rep team in the country carnival earlier this season – is also very handy with the gloves as a wicketkeeper.
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