Player profiles: Victorian female U16 state cricketers

Victoria’s incredible depth in female cricket will be on show at the upcoming under-16 national championships. Meet the future stars in our player profiles.

Victoria is set to aim for glory in next year’s Cricket Australia Under-16 Female National Championships in Canberra from January 5 to 12.

With the pedigree of talent named in the 13-player Metro and Country squads, the Vics look destined for success over competing states and territories including New South Wales, ACT, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania.

Ahead of the tournament, Leader Cricket has produced a player profile of everyone named in the squads.

The Victorian under 19 Victoria Country team made it to the grand final in their last National Championships. Picture: Cricket Australia

VIC METRO

Ira Aery, Western Spirit

Role: Bowler

Aery is a tall fast bowler who can reach speeds above 100km/h. She is able to get bounce with her height and can swing the ball. She is an exciting prospect as a bottom-age player in her first year in the state pathway program.

Elizabeth Cormack, South East Bayside Breakers

Role: All-rounder

A versatile player who can undertake different roles with bat or ball. She is a medium pacer and can bat in the middle order or top order. A great fielder, Cormack has been impressive in her Premier Cricket matches for Prahran this season.

Samara Dulvin, Inner South East Scorpions

Role: Batter

A hard trainer who will put in the time to develop. Dulvin has a strong technique making her a solid player. She has shots that will impress any onlooker for a batter of her age. The 15-year-old bowls leg spin which comes out the front of the hand. She will play in both the under-16 and under-19 Victorian Metro teams.

Ruby Gibson, Western Spirit

Role: Batter

A good striker of the ball who likes to hit straight and can also go over the top and find the boundary. Gibson is dynamic in the field and can change the game with a spectacular play.

Mia Gordon, Western Spirit

Role: Wicketkeeper

An exciting batting prospect who can change the game with her intent and ability to score around the ground. She is set for a strong tournament where she may also take the gloves.

Holly Nagpal, Western Spirit

Role: All-rounder

A high impact player who is consistent with her line and length. Creates pressure with her bowling. With the bat, she is a great striker of the ball and runs well between wickets. A good leader in the team who will support her bowlers through her fielding efforts and strong arm.

Shivani Narendran, North Metro Falcons

Role: Bowler

A tall left-arm medium bowler who can swing the ball. She has the ability to build pressure on batters with consistent line and length.

Amelie O’Meara, South East Bayside Breakers

Role: Batter

A player who has great enthusiasm to spend time at the crease. O’Meara hits the ball hard and finds the gaps. She runs well between wickets and has good awareness of the game. A competitor who is also handy in the field.

Sarnsiree Plant, Inner East Emus

Role: All-rounder

An athlete who is fast across the ground. Catches and throws well. She can put pressure on an opposition when she comes out to bat with intent and ability to get off strike and punish the bad balls. Also an off spinner who targets the stumps.

Tegan Rule, Outer East Eagles

Role: All-rounder

A dynamic batter who can play different roles. Rule can find the boundary and is a hard hitter of the ball but can also work balls for quick singles. She bowls off spin and will set good fields which make the batter hit where she wants them to. She reads the ball well off the bat in the field and cuts runs off. Rule was also in the Victorian U19s metro team.

Four years ago, @AusWomenCricket Meg Lanning surprised Tegan Rule at @RingwoodNorthPS.

Video here: https://t.co/vGPu0J3Ra0

Today, Tegan played AGAINST Meg at @boxhillcc. Dreams do come true! @[e-mail]/6sarPgO5KC

— Ringwood CC (@RingwoodCC) January 19, 2020

Zoe Samuel, South East Bayside Breakers

Role: All-rounder

A highly rated player who has an strong understanding of the game and reads the play well. Brings up innovative ideas that has allowed her to grow as a cricketer. With her pace bowling, she has good variations with her slower balls and yorkers making her a handy option at the death. Samuel played a mature innings of 72 this season against Prahran this where she displayed a variety of shots. She made a century in a recent Marg Jennings Cup under 18 premier cricket carnival where she was also the player of the tournament. Also a good fielder with a solid arm.

Navleen Sandhu, North Metro Falcons

Role: Wicketkeeper

A wicketkeeper with great hands up at the stumps and will drive a team with her energy. She has great intent with the bat and is dynamic. She understands the stage of the game and what is required. Comes from Plenty Valley in the Victorian Premier Cricket competition.

Rituja Talekar, Inner East Emus

Role: All-rounder

Had an outstanding YPL with both bat and ball last year. A consistent cricketer with a strong technique with bat and ball. She punches the ball through the ring with the bat and is able to rotate the strike. In the field she hunts the ball and has great energy.

Head coach: Teagan Parker

Assistant coach: Sophie Strickland

VIC COUNTRY

Gemma Boyd, Northern Rivers

Role: Batter

Boyd is able to work the ball around the ground and rotate the strike effectively. In the field, she is quick to the ball. Overall, a player who enjoys being in the contest.

Mannat Chadha, Southern Pioneers

Role: All-rounder

A technically correct batter who will pounce on width and use the pace of a bowler to her advantage. With the ball, she is a consistent performer who can gather swing at times.

Abby Collihole, Mallee Murray

Role: All-rounder

A player who understands the game well and will read a situation and know what is required. Her rotation of strike is a strength of hers with the bat. With the bowl, she builds pressure with dot balls bowling medium pace. Also a good mover in the field.

Sara Kennedy, Central Highlands

Role: Bowler

A left-arm fast bowler who can swing the ball. Gets an advantage from her speed and height. Kennedy has also been selected to represent Victoria at under-19 level.

Bronte Leishman was selected in both the Victorian U19 and U16 state teams. Picture: Alan Barber

Bronte Leishman, Barwon Rockets

Role: All-rounder

A bowling all-rounder who has good pace and control. She is strong at the crease and technically correct. Leishman has also been selected to represent Victoria at under-19 level, where she is the youngest in the team.

Thivyaa Mahendran, South East Sharks

Role: All-rounder

A left-arm fast bowler who is athletic and bowls with good pace. Mahendran likes to target the stumps and can gain bounce with her height. With the bat, she has a solid defence but can also hit boundaries at the back end of an innings. She is also handy in the field with her strength being her pace and ability to get to the ball quickly.

Charli McLennan, Central Highlands

Role: Wicketkeeper

With the bat, she can hit the ball to different parts of the ground. McLennan understands what is required in different situations. With the gloves, she is clean and provides good energy.

Kamya Mishra, Southern Pioneers

Role: Wicketkeeper

A technically correct batter who is attacking and puts pressure on opposition fielders with how hard she hits the ball. Mishra is multiskilled with her ability to also bowl spin and go behind the stumps as a wicketkeeper.

Grace Moyle, Northern Rivers

Role: Batter

A solid batter who strikes the ball well and has a real presence at the crease with her positive intent. She puts pressure on bowler by looking to score. In the field she reads the ball well off the bat and has a good arm.

Indigo Noble

Role: All-rounder

A dynamic all-rounder who can rotate the strike and score boundaries. She rushes batters with her pace bowling and builds pressure through consistency. She is alert in the field which often creates wicket opportunities.

Nilakshi Perera, Southern Pioneers

Role: All-rounder

A technically correct batter who can also hit over the top of ring fielders. Perera is consistent with the ball and builds pressure with dot balls. A dynamic player in the field and has a strong arm.

Sahana Tarini, Southern Pioneers

Role: All-rounder

A technically correct opening batter who uses the pace well off bowlers. Tarini also bowls off spin and has good control with her ball speed and ability to hit a good length. In the field, she understands angles and is agile.

Limansa Thilakarathna, South East Sharks

Role: All-rounder

A strong hitter on the leg side and bowls leg spin. Has good control with the ball. A hard worker and competitor who is handy to have in any team. Has great movement in the field.

Acacia Sutton, Gippsland Pride

Role: Bowler

A leg spinner who plays for Dandenong. Sutton has good control with her flight and speed on the ball. With the bat, she is outstanding with her running between the wickets. Has great awareness and is exceptional in the field.

Head coach: Tyson Freeman

Assistant coach: Laura Shaw