Cricket Illawarra: Top 28 players to watch in the 2023/24 Fraternity Club Women’s T20 competition
From established heavy hitters to promising up-and-comers, there’s plenty of exciting talent in the Cricket Illawarra women’s T20 competition this season. Check out our list of 28 players to watch.
Friday nights in the Illawarra just got much more exciting with the start of the Cricket Illawarra Fraternity Club Women’s T20 competition.
The 14 round plus finals competition kicked off in October and hosts some of the most exciting up-and-coming talents, as well as established cricket stars in the region.
Port Kembla Panthers are the defending premiers from season 2022/23 and look like they’ll be right up among the leaders again this season.
We’ve talked to every team to pick out some of their key players that will look to inspire with bat and ball this season.
Check out our list of 28 local women’s cricket stars to watch this season.
Eden Neich and Emily Sharman (Bally Magpies)
The package deal of 14-year-old young guns inspiring the Magpies’ bowling lineup.
The two youngest players on the side open the bowling with their medium-fast pace deliveries, taking early wickets and consistently staying economical.
Both are also excellent fielders and can contribute runs in the middle order.
Lauren Friend (Corrimal Cougarettes)
One of the leaders in the Corrimal side with lots of years in the game under her belt.
Batting in three or four and also able to bowl pace, she topped the batting aggregate for her side last season with 295 to her name.
Ashleigh Yeaman (Keira Lionesses)
Fresh recruit to Keira from Wollongong, Yeaman is an experienced and passionate all-rounder.
With experience in Sydney, she’s an invaluable addition to the Lionesses.
Imogen Fowles (Northern Districts)
An incredible athlete who’s also an up-and-coming hockey star.
Northern Districts through and through with her brother in first grade and father in fourth division.
A young all-rounder who bowls some terrific left-arm deliveries, provides some excellent batting and is great at chasing down balls in the field.
Anthea Godwin (Port Kembla Panthers)
The prized batter in this competition last season, averaging a whopping 78.2 off the bat and accumulating a league-high batting aggregate of 391.
As if not enough of a threat off the bat, she also took 12 wickets in the league last season.
Godwin plays in the Illawarra Womens open team as well, with her experience and skill crucial to Port Kembla and their hopes of going back-to-back.
Lauren McGill (University Mighty Ducks)
McGill is a talented all-rounder who will play a huge role for the Mighty Ducks this year.
She’s a strong leader of her troops and equally strong with bat and ball, with coach Coughlan expecting her to “turn a few heads” in the league this season.
Lisa Tomlinson (Wollongong Gems)
Opening batter and captain of the Gems, Tomlinson is another who is part of the Illawarra Womens side.
The boundary-hungry batter maxed out with a half-century in round one of the competition and is expected to maintain that standard and get runs on the board all season.
Diann Sharman (Bally Magpies)
Mother to Emily, Sharman is an all-rounder who is fast-scoring off the bat and just as fast with her aggressive deliveries.
She’s also a strong outfielder with a reliable pair of hands.
Claire Mellish (Corrimal Cougarettes)
A skilful fast bowler who opens proceedings with the ball for Corrimal, picking up 11 wickets in the competition last season and 37 across all comps.
Handy with the bat as well, picking up a team-high 32 runs from the middle of the order in round one.
Lily Savelli (Keira Lionesses)
A Lioness junior who has come through the ranks, Savelli is an exciting quick bowler and a handy batter as well.
Another within the Lionesses’ ranks with experience playing in Sydney.
Louise Tonge (Northern Districts)
Co-captaining the side this year, Tonge brings excellent leadership and a terrific cricket brain.
An all-rounder, she’s the best bowler in the team with her pacey deliveries, handy with the bat as well.
India Bellhouse (Port Kembla Panthers)
Another reliable batter in the Port Kembla ranks, Bellhouse usually opens the batting, while also being handy as a spin bowler.
Has plenty of rep experience with the likes of Greater Illawarra and St George-Sutherland, a real star all-rounder.
Molly Da Silva (University Mighty Ducks)
Only in her second year of cricket, but someone who has impressed immensely since arriving in the sport.
A technically strong all-rounder who is expected to take a lot of wickets and play a big role overall in the success of the side.
Nerida Sutton (Wollongong Gems)
Opening bowler for the Gems, coach Peter Rowe highlights her drastic bowling improvement over the past few seasons.
“When we got a hold of her two years ago, she walked up to the crease and was all shoulder and no technique … now she hits the crease and gets in the air when she bowls, bowling a nice straight line.”
Carinya Barkley (Bally Magpies)
The powerful opening batter for the Magpies who returns to the side this season after a serious knee injury.
She’s a reliable boundary-hitter and an exciting prospect to have back in the Magpies lineup.
Wolika Tiere (Corrimal Cougarettes)
Captaining the Cougarettes is the Cook Islands’ Tiere.
She’s the talented wicketkeeper who leads from behind the stumps and is expected to open with the bat as well.
Mikaela Stark (Keira Lionesses)
The whole Stark family is a part of the Keira Lionesses and Mikaela is one of the top guns.
“The youngest and biggest ball of energy in the team”, Stark is a handy quick bowler, topping the team with eight wickets last year and looking to improve those numbers.
Maija Deveney (Northern Districts)
Bringing great experience to the side is Deveney who will also be in the veterans competition in November.
Another all-rounder in the side, she’s been working hard in the off-season on her bowling and is solid with the bat as well.
Ella Yates (Port Kembla Panthers)
Just 15 years old but already with lots of experience is young Yates.
A NSW Country representative, she’s a pace bowler and middle order batter who shows skill and wisdom beyond her years.
Lara Hase (University Mighty Ducks)
Another player relatively fresh to the sport who shows incredible talent, especially with ball in hand.
Handy enough off the bat as well, but bowling is where she’ll be expected to impact this season.
Emily Jackson (Wollongong Gems)
Primarily a bowler who delivers little leg cutters, something that’s a point of difference in this league.
Another Illawarra Women representative, the expectation on Jackson is to be hitting the 15-20 wickets mark in the league this season.
Cassidy Smith (Corrimal Cougarettes)
Has picked up the club’s top batter award for the last few seasons, averaging 35 off the bat in 2022/23.
She’ll bat at three of four, also providing a stint in the bowling department as well when needed with her medium pacers.
Kelly Hancock (Keira Lionesses)
An important figure in recruiting for Keira in the off-season and an important figure on the field as well with bat and ball.
Leanne Handcock (Northern Districts)
Co-captain alongside Tonge, Handcock is consistent with the ball and consistent with her medium pace deliveries.
Topped the Northern District aggregate runs last season with 132.
Nicola Hudson (Port Kembla Panthers)
Another young gun for the future at just 14 years old, Hudson already has plenty of rep experience.
In the last few weeks she was a part of the Greater Illawarra U19 Country Champs squad, as well as being player of the carnival at the U15 Country Youth Championships.
Took a league-high 17 wickets last season and is definitely an up and coming all-rounder to keep an eye on.
Lucy Armitage (University Mighty Ducks)
Played an important role with the bat for the Mighty Ducks last year and is expected to elevate her game further this year.
Uni have developed a strong batting lineup this year and Armitage is set to be right in the thick of the runs.
Rachel Johnston (Wollongong Gems)
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Another top order batter who started the season off with a half-century in round one.
Hasn’t been playing for all that long, but she comes from a hockey background and has that competitive fire in her.
She also bowls a good line and length which will prove handy for the Gems.
Originally published as Cricket Illawarra: Top 28 players to watch in the 2023/24 Fraternity Club Women’s T20 competition
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