New look, four team first grade CTPL women’s competition kicks off with backing of state players

Cricket Tasmania’s sweeping changes to its local female competitions will benefit not only the state’s contracted players but grassroots level as well, according to Hurricanes captain

• Men’s CTPL preview
• Hall won’t shy away from internal expectations

HOBART Hurricanes captain Corinne Hall has backed the restructure of the women’s grade competition, confident it will help fast track improvement across all divisions.

Under a review overseen by former international spinner and Launceston native Kristen Beams, Cricket Tasmania reduced the CTPL women’s competition from 10 teams to four for the 2020-21 season.

Those four first grade teams — Greater Northern, Clarence, North Hobart and New Town — will kickstart the new era this Sunday when two rounds of Twenty20 action unfolds.

Hall will suit up for the Raiders against New Town at Riverside, with the two sides to clash at 10.30am and then again in the afternoon starting 2pm.

Front L-R Meg Phillips New Town, Corinne Hall Greater Northern Raiders. Back L-R Alice Kelly Kingborough, Louise Maddock University, Laura Scott Lindisfarne, Ella Marsh North Hobart, Ange Green South Hobart-Sandy Bay, Heather Graham Clarence. Official launch of the CTPL cricket season for men and women. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

After regular lopsided contests in previous years, Hall said while the reduced first grade competition will ensure a higher standard for the state’s best players, lower grades will also be more suitable for girls entering cricket.

“Over the last two seasons we have had a lot of changes in club land for the female program and I think this year the structure changes are aimed to soothe any girl or young female coming in that wants to play cricket and hopefully suit their skill level and hopefully their ambition to play at a higher level as well,” Hall said at the CTPL season launch.

“All our state players have made it our responsibility to get across all the four teams and make the level of competition really tough.

“It’s only going to enhance our skills and hopefully prepare us really well coming into the WNCL tournament early next year.”

Having previously played at South Hobart-Sandy Bay, Hall has no issues with added travel and said she will join her Raider teammates at every opportunity.

Corinne Hall of the Hurricanes bats during the Women's Big Bash League match between the Hobart Hurricanes and the Melbourne Stars at West Park on December 9, 2018 in Launceston, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

“We have all made a commitment to invest as much as we can in clubs when we are around.

“I will be heading up to Launceston as much as I can to be part of the training sessions and help the young girls up there develop as much as possible.”

Hall and other Hurricane squad members will get four to five weeks of matches under their belt before they fly to Sydney, where they will join the other Big Bash sides living and training within a “village” inside the Sydney Olympic Park precinct for the duration of WBBL|06.

“There has been a few jokes going around we might have an opening ceremony when we arrive in the hub in Sydney,” Hall said.

“We are really looking forward to playing, its been a long pre-season, we have prepared as best we can here and all just itching to get out on the pitch.”

CTPL WOMEN’S STATE PLAYER LIST

Clarence

Heather Graham

Emma Thompson

Emily Smith

Maisy Gibson

GN Raiders

Sasha Moloney

Corinne Hall

Belinda Vakarewa

New Town

Rachel Priest

Brooke Hepburn

Meg Phillips

Amy Smith (homegrown)

North Hobart

Naomi Stalenberg

Nicola Carey (CA Contacted)

Samantha Bates

Chloe Abel

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