The top Darling Downs female cricketers you need to watch

40+ female stars: From grassroots cricket to the national stage the Darling Downs is a hotbed of female cricket talent. Here is The Chronicle’s look at the young stars you need to know.

Georgia Voll bats for Queensland the WNCL match against Western Australia. Picture: Will Russell/Getty Images

CRICKET on the Darling Downs is ‘catching fire’ and a number of elite players are leading the charge.

Ruth Johnston and Kira Holmes are the latest in a long list of players from the region to earn Queensland Fire call-ups.

The Darling Downs is proving to be a hotbed of junior female cricket talent with five players currently part of the elite Fire program.

The Toowoomba Girls Cricket Hub has played a major role in the development of players from across the region.

“The girls hub was created to help get young girls into the game of cricket,” TGCH committee member Ian Mills said.

“It’s an inclusive and friendly environment that allows young girls to play the game (cricket) without unnecessary stress.

“One of the unique things we do is to have all the girls and all age groups train together.”

Mills said this approach has created an environment where training is just as fun and enjoyable, as it is challenging and difficult.

The focus however remains on skill development.

“The girls are very focused on learning their skills and the technical aspects of the game,” he said.

“They enjoy their training so much, we can hardly send them home.”

The Chronicle sport team have compiled a list of the region’s top 43 female players to watch.

Young stars

Fairholme College student Lilli Hamilton.

Lilli Hamilton

Hamilton is an off-spinner all-rounder, and recently was captain of the U15 Western Swelter team.

She currently plays for Wests’ first grade side in the Brisbane competition.

Last year she was named in the Queensland under-18s State Challenge squad.

Warwick cricketer and Assumption College student Laura Scheiwe.

Laura Scheiwe

Currently plays first grade for UQ in the Brisbane competition.

Scheiwe is a bowler with a massive amount of talent and was recently named in the QLD country open women’s team.

The 16-year-old also coaches junior cricket in Warwick.

Queensland Country cricket player Jaimie-Lee Strang

Jaimie-Lee Strang (18)

Strang currently lines up for Gold Coast District Club in their first grade side.

Known for her excellent work behind the stumps, she is also proving to be a more than capable bowler.

Having already applied her trade overseas in England, she is set to play in Balbriggan, Ireland at the start of 2023.

Ruth Johnston of Queensland receives the ball during the WNCL match between Western Australia and Queensland at WACA. Picture: Will Russell/Getty Images

Players of note

Georgia Voll

Ruth Johnston

Kira Holmes

Emma Jackson

Lucy Burke

Olivia Winter

Emerging junior talent

Under-13s

Ashley Convery

Evie Phillips

Jordyn Thureson

Verity Schultz

Lucy Mills

Madison Samuelsen

Jessica Johnston

Emmy Cussons

Amelia Kuhn

Sasha Kirkland

Erin Irvine

Macie Whiting

Hannah Whiting

Holly Roughan

Under-15s

Mabel Galbraith

Zoe Hoare

Lucy Williams

Marley Stokes

Eve Dale

Sage Martin

Rhiannon Beer

Gabrielle Bartkowski

Emilie Peck

Phoebe Bryant

Emily Cussons

Jemimah Smith

Over-15s

Caitlin Lutvey

Brenna Craven

Olivia Winter

Olivia Clark

Sophie Smith

Kyrna Crump

Felicity Koch

Lucy Neumann