Cricket Victoria names Under 19 female emerging players squads

The daughter of a former Test star has been included in the development program for Vic Metro and Vic Country Under 19 players.

Jasmine Fleming bowling for Box Hill.

Forty-eight of Victoria’s most promising female cricketers have been named in the Cricket Victoria Under 19 emerging players program for 2021-22.

Dandenong premiership player Poppy Gardner and her Box Hill grand final opponent Jasmine Fleming are among the players from Vic Metro and Vic Country.

Gardner, 16 and a left-arm opening bowler, took 17 wickets at 24.2 last season, bowling well in the decider with 1-26 off nine overs.

Her best was 4-29 off 10 overs against Plenty Valley.

“Anyone opening the bowling at that age has some talent about them, and her ability to stay calm and cool in pressure situations is very impressive,’’ Dandenong teammate Emma Gallagher said of Gardner.

“She’s a very relaxed character and great to have around the group. Brings a lot of energy. She’s a really exciting young player.’’

Dandenong opening bowler Poppy Gardner.

Fleming, 16, is the daughter of former Australian swing bowler Damien Fleming.

The right-arm medium-fast bowler played an important role in Box Hill’s upset semi-final victory over Melbourne, taking 1-21 off six overs.

“It’s in her DNA to want to compete,’’ outgoing Box Hill coach Alan Carter said of Fleming.

“She’s got it in spades, and her skill-set is developing rapidly. And that is because apart from the talent she was blessed with, she has got a great work ethic and an appetite to learn. Any progress she makes never surprises you.

“She started the season really well, she had some ups and downs, as young players do, she had an injury, but she came back and produced that performance in the semi-final which was significant.’’

The 48 players will begin specialist sessions next month before the wider program starts in August.

Players will train at the CitiPower Centre and the MCG, and sessions will also be held in regional areas to reduce the travel burden for players in country areas.

The program will call on the expertise of Cricket Victoria’s coaches and players.

Players will have the opportunity to represent Vic Metro and Vic Country at the National Championships in Perth in December.

“This is a key part of the players development pathway where they’ll receive guidance and insight from elite coaches and professional players,” Cricket Victoria’s head of the female emerging players program Duncan Harrison said.

“They’ll gain an increased understanding of their own game and how to prepare for professional cricket.

“The carrot of a national championships at the end of this year is a great landmark for the players to aim for and we’re excited by the level of talent we’ll have representing Victoria at that tournament.”

Vic Country squad

Jaide Anthony – South East Country Sharks, Prahran

Lillee Barendsen – Central Highlands, Carlton

Jessica Bohn – Gippsland Pride, Melbourne

Paris Bowdler – Barwon Rockets, Prahran

Aanlynia Cheeran – Barwon Rockets, Plenty Valley

Tia Davidge – Central Highlands, EMP

Bianca Deckker – Barwon Rockets

Emily Edwards – Mallee Murray Suns, Carlton

Kethmi Ekanayake – Southern Pioneers, Dandenong

Georgia Gall – Northern Rivers, EMP

Poppy Gardner – South East Country Sharks, Dandenong

Zarlie Goldsworthy – North Est Knights, Carlton

Cailin Green – Northern Rivers, Carlton

Madeline Green – Western Waves

Millicent Illingworth – Western Waves, EMP

Grace Jones – Barwon Rockets, EMP

Meika King – Gippsland Pride, Prahran

Lucinda Lowe – Central Highlands, Carlton

Alyssa Lucas – Central Highlands, Carlton

Arnika McGregor – Northern Rivers

Rhys McKenna – South East Country Sharks, Prahran

Tahlia Meier – Central Highlands, Box Hill

Emily Mitchell – North East Knights, Carlton

Jasmine Nevins – Northern Rivers, Plenty Valley

Hannah Rooke – Western Waves

Abby Wrigglesworth – Gippsland Pride

Vic Metro Squad

Kristy Arulrajah – Inner East Emus, Ringwood

Erin Carroll – South East Bayside, Ringwood

Ruby Cullinan – Inner East Emus

Hailey Ferris – Inner East Emus, Ringwood

Jasmine Fleming – Inner East Emus, Box Hill

Simran Gandhi – North West Wizards, Plenty Valley

Bridie Groves – Northern Falcons, Plenty Valley

Ella Hayward – South East Bayside, Melbourne

Olivia Henry – Outer East Eagles, Ringwood

Samohn Hereora – North West Wizards, EMP

Annecy Homberg – Inner South East Scorpions, Melbourne

Aman Kaur – Western Spirit, EMP

Ashling O’Farrell – Inner East Emus, Box Hill

Lucy Page – South East Bayside, Melbourne

Mia Perrin – South East Bayside, Melbourne

Lara Shannon – Inner East Emus, Box Hill

Ella Stallwood – Northern Falcons, Melbourne

Olivia Thomas – Outer East Eagles, Ringwood

Maddie White – South East Bayside, Prahran

Isabel White – Inner East Emus, Box Hill

Uvindee Wijesena – Inner South East Scorpions, Dandenong

Ellen Williams – South East Bayside, Prahran