Women’s National Cricket League 2021/22: NSW Breakers coach Gavan Twining on development focus

The NSW Breakers dominance is unparalleled in Australian cricket, crowned champions of the WNCL 20 times in 25 years. After back-to-back failures, the team is now planning for long-term success.

The NSW Breakers dominance is unparalleled in Australian cricket, crowned champions of the Women’s National Cricket League an incredible 20 times across 25 tournaments.

A nursery of female cricketing superstars have represented the Breakers, from Lisa Sthalekar, Alex Blackwell and Ellyse Perry to current squad members and Australian representatives Rachael Haynes and Alyssa Healy.

However, the team’s grip on the Ruth Preddy Cup has loosened in recent times with a fourth-placed finish in 2020/21 and a grand final loss the summer before.

Breakers celebrate their 20th and most recent title in 2019. Picture: Steve Christo

The star-studded squad, which features six current Australian players including young guns Hannah Darlington and Stella Campbell, will begin their 2021/22 campaign on Friday when they take on Victoria at Melbourne’s Junction Oval.

Incoming coach Gavan Twining, a former schoolteacher and prolific Sydney grade cricket runscorer, was forced to lead training sessions from a computer screen for two months straight after taking on the new role due to Sydney’s lockdown restrictions.

Stella Campbell in action last year. Picture: Mick Tsikas

Twining said, despite the unmissable history of success, his personal focus wasn’t to add to the overflowing trophy cabinet at Cricket NSW HQ but rather foster the next generation of the state’s female cricket talent.

“Obviously there is pressure for the Breakers to win because they have been so successful but, from my behalf and that might differ from the organisation because we always want to win, my focus is when we get the chance to develop those younger girls … we give them the opportunity to put into place all the things they have done in pre-season and previous seasons,” he said.

“If finals or championships come along that’s a bonus, but I think this year is all about giving exposure to the younger girls so that next generation gets that feel of what it is like to play WNCL.”

When asked why the Breakers hadn’t lifted the trophy in the past two summers, Twining said a key contributor was the absence of Australian players due to international duty, a hurdle which the squad will have to overcome this summer when the Women’s Ashes takes place in coming months.

Hannah Darlington at North Sydney Oval in the 2019/20 WNCL final. Picture: Brendon Thorne

With veterans Haynes (35), Healy (31) and Erin Burns (33) sharing a dressing room with rising prospects Darlington (19), Campbell (19) and even high school graduates Jade Allen (18) and Claire Moore (18), the opportunity to educate the next generation is there for the taking.

“What I have really enjoyed this pre-season is seeing those more experienced girls pass on their knowledge to the younger girls,” Twining said.

“There has been lots of great conversations and one-on-on work, where an older girl is paired up with a younger girl and to help them with their development.

“The input that the experienced girls give and then the mouth wide open, ‘is Rach Haynes actually talking to me’ from the younger girls taking it all on board like sponges really excites me.”

Twining said he was expecting a big WNCL campaign from a driven Haynes on her return from a hamstring injury and welcoming her first child, with talented all-rounder Anika Learoyd (19) training the house down alongside quick bowler Maitlan Brown (24).

The Breakers will play back to back matches against Victoria, with the squad to voluntarily take extra Covid precautions during their time interstate.

NSW Breakers squad: Alyssa Healy (c), Jade Allen, Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns, Stella Campbell, Hannah Darlington, Ashleigh Gardner, Rachael Haynes, Emma Hughes, Anika Learoyd, Phoebe Litchfield, Claire Moore, Lauren Smith, Tahlia Wilson