Hobart Hurricanes Women’s BBL star Georgia Redmayne set for Gold Coast Dolphins debut

SHE is yet to play a game for her new club but Gold Coast Dolphins recruit Georgia Redmayne is embracing her unofficial leadership role within a young Katherine Raymont Shield squad.

SHE is yet to play a game for her new club but Gold Coast Dolphins recruit Georgia Redmayne is embracing her unofficial leadership role within one of the Katherine Raymont Shield’s youngest squads.

Crowned the Betty Wilson Young Women’s Cricketer of the Year in February following a breakout season with Tasmania (Women’s National Cricket League) and Hobart Hurricanes (Women’s Big Bash League), the 24-year-old wicketkeeper will make her Dolphins debut in Sunday’s Round 2 one-dayer at home to Ipswich-Logan.

JUNIOR WORLD SERIES JUST THE START FOR JAMES

Despite a looming move to the Coast when she begins a new job at Tweed Hospital in January, Redmayne will continue to juggle WNCL and WBBL commitments with her Dolphins duties.

The Alstonville product has spent the past two seasons with Cricket Tasmania while living on the NSW north coast, after failing to make inroads beyond a sole appearance for NSW in the 2014-15 WNCL final.

Gold Coast Dolphins recruit Georgia Redmayne. Picture: Richard Gosling

But coming off a stellar domestic season that included Tasmania’s first ever WNCL ton, Redmayne is ready to pass on her experience to a youth-filled Dolphins squad.

“You always want to play your role in the team and get runs and dismissals (but) I know a few of the younger girls playing up there so if I can be a leader to them in a way and help them out with they’re cricket, that’s something I’m really looking forward to,” Redmayne said.

FORMER DOLPHINS STAR CHASING FRESH START

“Obviously I’ll be finding my way a bit as a new person in the system but would definitely love to help people and the team develop in any kind of role that I can. I know there’s quite a few north coast girls who travel up.

“Young Grace Parsons is just starting and Amy Riddell has done quite well for them the last couple of seasons. Sammy-Jo Johnson, I grew up playing cricket with around the Lismore area so I’m looking forward to playing with her again, rather than against her.”

Redmayne (right) in action for the Hobart Hurricanes in last season’s Women's Big Bash League. Picture: AAP Image/Mal Fairclough

Having toured Sri Lanka with Australia A in April last year, Redmayne said she was keen to continue her rise towards Southern Stars selection.

“It’s just a matter of the little opportunities that you do get, to try to make the most of those. Hopefully it’s a big season coming up.”

T20 FINAL A CHANCE TO MAKE A STATEMENT

The Dolphins (4-212) slipped to a 160-run loss to Sandgate-Redcliffe (7-372) in last Sunday’s season opener, but there were signs of promise from Rebecca Van Helvoirt (102 not out), Chelsea Gan (80) and Grace Parsons (2-50).

Meanwhile, hopes of a breakthrough Queensland Premier Cricket win for the Dolphins’ men have received a boost after Valleys all-rounder Andrew Gode was called into Queensland’s JLT One Day Cup squad on Thursday.

Valleys’ Andrew Gode. Picture: Chris Higgins

The 28-year-old was drafted into the Bulls’ 14-man group for their final two games against Western Australia and NSW (Monday) in Sydney, but he did not feature in Friday’s loss to the Warriors at Hurstville Oval.

NEW ERA FOR DOLPHINS’ WOMEN

A destructive batsman, Gode would have been a key figure in Valleys’ push to chase down the Dolphins’ 229 at Peter Easton Oval on Saturday.

The Diehards will resume at 2-89, with former Dolphin Nick Stevens (12) and Dylan Mullen (0) at the crease after two late wickets from Liam Hope-Shackley on day one.