Leader cricket writers name their Women’s Premier Cricket team of 2019-20
Leader’s cricket writers have assembled some of Victoria’s brightest women’s cricket talents in their Team of the Season. See who made the cut and tell us who was unlucky to miss out.
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Victoria had six players called up to Australia’s victorious T20 World Cup squad, including recent arrival Ellyse Perry.
And judging by this line-up there’s plenty more Big V talent ready for green and gold honours.
Leader’s cricket writers Paul Amy and Ben Higgins have put together a star-studded Women’s Premier Cricket XI that has match-winners across the board.
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REBECCA CARTER (Box Hill – 970 runs @ 46.19)
The former state under-age representative gave the 1000-run mark a nudge as she topped the competition charts. The left-hander hit 659 runs at 65.9 in the one-dayers and 311 at 28.3 in the T20s — that’s 970 at 46.2, with two centuries against Dandenong and one against Ringwood (her first ton against Dandy was 156 not out and came off 145 deliveries). She was in the team of the year in 2018-19, she’ll be the first player picked for this season’s side and she’ll go close to securing a Victorian contract.
BHAVISHA DEVCHAND (Ringwood – 754 runs @ 34.27, 34 wickets @ 15.21)
With her captaincy, batting and bowling, the former Perth Scorchers and Western Fury all-rounder gave Ringwood a sterling first season in the Victorian competition. She started it with a blob against Box Hill but ended it with 754 runs at 34.3 and 34 wickets at 15.2. At 27 she has much good cricket in front of her, and her performances in Premier Cricket won’t have gone unnoticed by the states.
STERRE KALIS (Prahran – 651 runs @ 38.29)
What an introduction to Victorian Premier Cricket. The former Queensland representative was a key member of Prahran’s push to the one-day grand final this season. Kalis showed her talent at the business end of the season, plundering 301 runs in the final six games of the campaign, including a maiden century. A grand final showdown against Essendon-Maribrynong Park would have been fascinating as Kalis made half-centuries in both meetings with the Bombers this season.
MAKINLEY BLOWS (EMP – 825 runs @ 48.53, 22 wickets @ 15.86) (CAPT)
The Essendon Maribyrnong Park skipper topped the Premier T20 run charts with a whopping 499 runs – at an average of 62 – and added another 326 (at 36.22 per innings) in the one-day format. That’s 825 overall, second behind only Rebecca Carter. Add in 22 wickets across all competitions and you’ve got a genuine match-winner at just 22 years old. A blistering performance in the T20 semi-final against Box Hill – an unbeaten 65 and 3-6 was the highlight. Captained the Bombers to a hat-trick of titles – T20, one-day and club championship – so must captain the team of the season.
KIM GARTH (Dandenong – 568 @ 71.00, 22 wickets @ 11.64)
They love the Irish international at Dandy, for her bubbly manner and her brilliant cricket. The Women’s Big Bash League all-rounder joined the Panthers in 2017-18 and has been an outstanding performer. This season her lowest score was 19 as he totted up 568 runs at 71, and her 22 wickets came at an average cost of 11.6. In this team she’ll open the bowling and can bat anywhere in the order.
AMY VINE (Melbourne – 752 runs @ 32.70)
The Demons hitter earns her place on the back of a sensational Twenty20 campaign that yielded 478 runs (second overall), at an average of 47.80, and included five 50s (first overall). Four of those half-centuries were unbeaten and four came batting first. Vine’s one-day form was nothing to sneeze at either, 274 runs, for a grand total of 752 across both formats. An opening bat for Melbourne but Vine slides down the order as a hard-hitting finisher in this line-up.
SOPHIE REID (Plenty Valley – 750 runs @ 39.47) (WK)
Had the dubious honour of joining the 99 club this season but that should not detract from a season filled with highlights. Having recovered from a severe hamstring injury suffered in last season’s semi-final, the Plenty Valley star lit up the one-day competition with 476 runs (fourth overall) and added 274 runs in T20 mode (seventh overall). Reid takes the gloves in our team. The talented wicketkeeper snared the most total dismissals in the one-day format (12 catches, five stumpings) and another 12 in the T20s (four catches, eight stumpings).
ZOE GRIFFITHS (Box Hill – 514 runs @ 24.48, 35 wickets @ 14.91)
The all-rounder made runs, took wickets and even kept for Box Hill this season, standing behind the sticks in its last two matches. An unbroken opening partnership of 198 with Rebecca Carter against Melbourne and a bag of 6-13 against Carlton-Brunswick were highlights of her season. Griffiths came in with 514 runs and 35 wickets with her spin, edging closer to the state scene.
ELLY DONALD (Melbourne – 516 runs @ 20.64, 40 wickets @ 17.43)
A member of the Victorian and Melbourne Stars WBBL squads, “Mac’’ Donald is ripening into a fine all-rounder. With her medium pace the Mornington Peninsula product took the most wickets in the competition — 24 in One-Dayers and 16 in the T20s — and with her hard hitting cranked out 570 runs at 20.6. She can take the new ball with Garth or come on as a lively change bowler.
BRIANA BINCH (EMP – 36 wickets @ 13.11)
When Essendon Maribyrnong Park needed a wicket, Binch was inevitably the provider. The wily veteran produced a career-best season in 2019-20 with 36 wickets across both the T20 and one-day formats. Her 22 wickets in the 50-over games were second to only Elly Donald but her average of 11.86 was far superior. Binch’s average and economy rate (2.66) were both clearly No.1 of the top-10 one-day wicket-takers.
ALANA KING (Prahran – 34 wickets @ 12.03)
How are these for fine figures – six matches, 12 wickets and an average of 8.08. That was King’s T20 campaign. Impressive, yes? What about 22 wickets in 11 one-dayers at an average 14.18. Getting the picture? The Prahran strike bowler earns her place in the team of the season as arguably the deadliest bowler in the competition. King went wicketless in just three games this season and took multiple scalps in nine outings.
12TH WOMAN
POPPY GARDNER (Dandenong)
The 14-year-old spent the season in the Panthers’ First XI, sometimes bowling first change behind first-class pair Kim Garth and Courtney Neale. It held her in good stead for the Under-15 National Championships in the ACT, where she took nine wickets for Cricket Victoria and was selected in the Australian talent squad. Tuck her name away for the future.