Women’s Premier Cricket season preview: Dandenong out to defend title
Kelly Applebee has come to the end of the road but plenty of young players are starting out on it. Here’s a run-down of the clubs ahead of Round 1.
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One of Victorian women’s cricket’s most distinguished players will be missing when the Premier season starts on Sunday.
Kelly Applebee, a former Victorian captain, Australian squad member and WBBL player, has retired from Dandenong at the age of 39.
Work and family commitments prompted her decision.
Applebee could go out on the high of Dandy’s grand final victory over Box Hill last season.
She had returned to the club two years earlier to help guide a young Second XI – and across both teams hit 765 runs at an average of 109.3.
Last season she contributed a handy 238 runs at 21.6.
New Dandenong coach Shane Lamour said Applebee was an outstanding club person and the Panthers had asked her to work with the team leaders this season.
After two years as an assistant, Lamour has replaced Andy Christie, who has been appointed Cricket Victoria’s female emerging players performance manager.
Christie had been coach for three years.
The Panthers said he had a “profound impact on the entire playing group’’, creating a “positive environment for all players, which has led to enormous growth in our women’s program, including two First XI premierships’’.
“Andy’s guidance has helped us become excellent cricketers and more importantly better people. Whilst we are sad that he is departing the club, we are extremely excited for him to take the next step in his coaching journey. As a club we would like to thank Andy for his incredible contribution to not only the success of our program, but the positive influence that he has had on the entire club.’’
Aside from Applebee, the Panthers have also lost batter Maryam Omar, who has crossed to Carlton.
They have recruited Cassie Stephens as a playing assistant and will look to bring through young players like Zoe Burke, Natalie Taylor, Keely Pace and Thenushi Perera.
Stephens, an off-spinner, transferred from Ringwood and previously captained and played for South Perth and University in WA Grade cricket.
She was also head coach of Clontarf Cricket Club in Ireland and is coaching girls cricket at Caulfield Grammar School.
“To be competitive and play finals,’’ Lamour said when asked about Dandenong’s hopes in a season when it will defend the premiership.
Melbourne finished the minor premier last season, only to fall to fourth-placed Box Hill in the semi-final.
The Demons have appointed skipper Teagan Parker as captain-coach, and she’ll be supported by a support panel including Karen Rolton, last season’s coach Graeme Lay and Will O’Brien.
Parker scored 403 runs at 44.8 last season and performed well behind the stumps.
This season she’ll keep to opening bowler Hayleigh Brennan, who has returned to the club after one season at Box Hill.
Brennan took 13 wickets at 16.2 for the Mustangs, including 5-32 off 10 overs in the grand final.
Melbourne has farewelled Stephanie Townsend, who has tired of the travel from Warrnambool and will focus on her new landscaping business, and left-arm quick Olivia Downes, who will concentrate on her hockey (she’s in the Australian under-age squad).
The Demons have a classy crop of young players, including Zoe Samuel, Indigo Noble and Hasrat Gill, who in 2020-21 won the Sue Woolcock Award as the Premier Seconds player of the season.
There’s little doubt Gill will be seen more in the First XI in 2021-22.
Talent runs deep at EMP, with 18 of its players in Cricket Victoria pathways programs and seven in the Big Bash.
Although Molly Strano, Elyse Villani, Nat Schilov and Chloe Rafferty have interstate contracts, all four have committed to playing for EMP when they can, according to coach George Shaw.
He’s counting Georgia Wareham (knee injury) as the club’s only loss.
New Victorian squad member Sam Bates, Big Bashing with Sydney Thunder, is a key inclusion with her left-arm spin.
She’s made the move from Tasmania.
EMP has also recruited Katia Jomini from Carlton and Sienna Ferrara from Plenty Valley.
Jomini will bat in the top four or five.
EMP has another fast-emerging player in 16-year-old Milly Illingworth, who, with the help of Mick Lewis, has picked up some pace since last season and is now touching 120kmh. She’s also accomplished with the bat.
Prahran has a new coach in Matt Dutton, who arrived in Australia from the UK three years ago and was involved in the True Blues’ men’s program last season. He had been with County club Warwickshire.
Dutton replaces Carl Sandri, who was appointed head coach and high performance manager of PNG Cricket.
Sandri was the club’s inaugural women’s coach and was in the role for seven years.
The True Blues have also brought in Jennifer Taffs as assistant coach.
The former ACT Meteors and Melbourne Renegades player will captain the First XI.
WBBL spinner and Sophie Day has crossed from Plenty Valley.
As with all other Premier clubs, Prahran is nurturing plenty of young talent, including wicketkeeper Paris Bawdler, fast bowler Meika King and all-rounder Samara Dulvin, who made her First XI debut last season at age 13.
Ringwood has kept its senior group together and will bring along a bunch of emerging players.
Bhavisha Devchand, maker of 460 runs last season, will captain the side and Irish player Una Raymond-Hoe is back as she seeks to qualify for Australian residency.
Meg Thompson, who joined the club in January after making the move from Perth, will take over the gloves, and Erin Carroll and OIivia Thompson will lead the bowling.
Carroll has done a lot of work in the off-season and coach Kim Littlejohn believes she could be a player to jump out of the ground this season.
Olivia Henry, who crafted her maiden First XI century and took 21 wickets last season, is another young cricketer to track.
Plenty Valley will field the most youthful team in the competition after losing the two Sophies: experienced pair Sophie Day (Prahran) and Sophie Reid (Carlton).
Meanwhile long-term player Meagan Ciavarella has retired.
With Janaka Deegodagamage stepping aside, the Bats have a new coach in Brett Cole, a seasoned hand to steer a young squad.
He played Premier and Sub-District cricket and in a number of suburban competitions, and more recently was involved in junior development and representative sides in the Diamond Valley.
Cole said Plenty Valley had a talented bunch of young players, including Jasmine Nevins, Simran Gandhi, Bridie Groves, Aanlynia Cheeran and Ribhya Syan.
“They’re tracking well. It’s going to be a development year, there’s no two ways about it,’’ he said.
“We’re going to have some younger Diamond Valley girls playing in our Second XI, which will be fantastic. We feel like we’re stepping into the future.’’
Cole, a chiropractor, is in for a busy summer. He’s also Cricket Victoria’s regional talent coach, overseeing the Falcons pathways program, and is director of coaching at Lower Eltham juniors.
Reid is a notable addition to Carlton.
She made 357 at 32.45 last season and will strengthen a batting list that last season relied on Nipuni Hansika.
The same could be said for Dandenong premiership player Maryam Omar.
The experienced Stuart Clark, a familiar figure in Premier Cricket, is the new head coach of Carlton, taking over from Adrian Harris, and the Blues are well stocked for under-age talent.
Clark said he had been impressed by the standard of training and he expected there would be competition for spots.
Left-arm bowler Sara Kennedy is one player who has taken his eye in the build-up.
Addy Campion will captain the First XI.
Box Hill has had a change at the top, with Richard Armstrong replacing Alan Carter, who in two stints steered the Mustangs to great success.
Armstrong coached the club’s men’s teams last season in Sub-District cricket.
Zoe Griffiths, 21 but a seasoned and successful performer at Premier level, will skipper the First XI and Holly Spencer is vice-captain.
Both are in the CV emerging performance squad.
While Hayleigh Brennan has left the Mustangs, they have picked up Yashoda Senarathne from Dandenong and Sayali Abhyankar from Carlton, and young Arnika McGregor will make the move from Shepparton.
It’s worth tracking Jasmine Fleming, 17, the daughter of Test man Damien.
She bowls right-arm mediums and her dad put her through her paces at the Casey Fields nets on Saturday.
Meanwhile Geelong will makes its debut in Premier Cricket, fielding teams in the Seconds and Thirds as it builds towards First XI status.
ROUND 1
Ringwood v Box Hill at Russell Lucas Oval
Carlton v Melbourne at Princes Park #1
Prahran v Dandenong at Toorak Park
Plenty Valley v Essendon Maribyrnong Park at Yarrambat War Memorial Park
CRICKET VICTORIA FEMALE TALENT SQUADS
2021-22 Emerging Performance squad
Maddi Albers, Carlton
Addy Campion, Carlton
Elly Donald, MCC
Emma Gallagher, Dandenong
Zoe Griffiths, Box Hill
Alyssa Humphries, EMP
Katia Jomini, EMP
Danni Montague, Box Hill
Anna O’Donnell, MCC
Tegan Parker, MCC
Erika Quinn, MCC
Paris Rafferty, Box Hill
Sophie Reid, Plenty Valley
Laura Shaw, Ringwood
Holly Spencer, Box Hill
Under 19 Female Emerging Players
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 East 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
U19 Female 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
2021-22 U16 Female Vic Metro Squad
Alyssa Acevski, Western Spirit, Carlton
Helena Aquila, Outer East Eagles, Ringwood
Kayla Britnall, Western Spirit, EMP
Sarah Byrne, North West Wizards, Carlton
Nikita Chaudhary, North West Wizards, Carlton
Elizabeth Cormack, South East Bayside, Prahran
Katherine Deke, lInner South East Scorpions, Box Hill
Samara Dulvin, Inner South East Scorpions, Prahran
Georgia Egan, North West Wizards
Lou Lou Field, Western Spirit, EMP
Amelia Freeman, North West Wizards, Carlton
Ruby Gibson, Western Spirit
Amelie Gladman, Inner East Emus, Box Hill
Mia Gordon, Western Spirit, EMP
Jasmine Gouldson, Inner East Emus, Box Hill
Matilda Lloyd, South East Bayside
Hayley McLaughlin, Outer East Eagles, Ringwood
Keely Miutescu, Outer East Eagles
Vaishnavi Munukutla, Inner East Emus
Holly Nagpal, Western Spirit, EMP
Ishani Narendran, Northern Falcons
Amelie O’Meara, Inner South East Scorpions, Melbourne
Minnie O’Sullivan, Northern Falcons
Olivia Panaia, North West Wizards
Nalina Plant, Inner East Emus
Sarnsiree Plant, Inner East Emus
Honey Raut, North West Wizards, Carlton
Tegan Rule, Outer East Eagles, Ringwood
Ella Russell, Outer East Eagles
ZoeSamuel, Inner South East Scorpions, Melbourne
Navleen Sandhu, Northern Falcons, Plenty Valley
Dia Shah, South East Bayside, Prahran
Alexandra Sheedy, Outer East Eagles, Ringwood
Emma Stilve, Inner East Emus, Box Hill
Rosemary Sykes, Outer East Eagles, Ringwood
U16 Female Vic Country Squad
Georgia Baker-Miller, Western Waves, EMP
Issy Boulton, Mallee Murray Suns
Gemma Boyd, Northern Rivers, Carlton
Kirrily Bruce, Gippsland Pride, Prahran
Sara Burns, North Est Knights, Carlton
Abby Collihole, Mallee Murray Suns
Isobella Collins, Central Highlands
Mia Earl, Northern Rivers, Carlton
Hasrat Gill, Southern Pioneers, Melbourne
Annabelle Glossop, Western Waves, EMP
Meera Hyderabad, South East Country Sharks, Dandenong
Sara Kennedy, Central Highlands, Carlton
Bronte Leishman, Barwon Rockets
Charli McLennan, Central Highlands, Carlton
Grace Moyle, Northern Rivers, Carlton
Indigo Noble, South East Country Sharks
Matilda Pendergast, Gippsland Pride
Nilakshi Perera, South East Country Sharks
Jemma Reynolds, South East Country Sharks, Dandenong
Yashoda Senarathne, Southern Pioneers, Dandenong
Grace Shrama, Western Waves
Sienna Sims, North East Knights, Carlton
Ribhya Syan, Barwon Rockets, Plenty Valley
Abby Trezise, South East Country Sharks
Lila Wilkinson, Western Waves
Demi Zanoni, Mallee Murray Suns
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