Victoria has named a 13-player squad for the opening weekend of the 2022-23 Women’s National Cricket League season.
Victoria has named a 13-player squad for the opening weekend of the 2022-23 Women's National Cricket League season.
The team will travel to Adelaide to face last year's runners-up, South Australia, in a pair of matches at Karen Rolton Oval on Friday and Sunday.
Star all-rounder Sophie Molineux will lead the squad, after being appointed Victorian captain over the off-season. Ellyse Perry and Annabel Sutherland will also feature, fresh from Australia's gold medal success at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
The trio combined for just four games last WNCL, due to injury or international commitments.
Left-arm spinner Sam Bates was the competition's leading wicket-taker last summer, with 16 wickets from seven matches, while newly-contracted Sophie Reid is also in the squad after making her Victorian debut last season.
The WNCL has been expanded to a 12-game season for 2022-23, with all seven teams to play each other twice.
"We're excited to get the season underway and to be able to field a strong squad for our opening games against South Australia, who were last year's finalists" Cricket Victoria's Head of Female Cricket, Sharelle McMahon said.
"Having the likes of Sophie, Ellyse and Annabel available provides a big boost, with the quality and experience they provide. Sophie begins her tenure as Victorian captain and we know she will do a great job in that role.
"We saw a lot of our younger squad members get playing opportunities last year. We know they will be better for those experiences and look forward to watching them continue to develop this season."
Squad
Sophie Molineux (c) (Dandenong)
Sam Bates (Essendon Maribyrnong Park)
Makinley Blows (Essendon Maribyrnong Park)
Sophie Day (Prahran)
Nicole Faltum (Dandenong)
Tess Flintoff (Ringwood)
Kim Garth (Dandenong)
Ella Hayward (Melbourne)
Rhys McKenna (Prahran)
Rhiann O'Donnell (Melbourne)
Ellyse Perry (Dandenong)
Sophie Reid (Carlton)
Annabel Sutherland (Prahran)
WNCL Fixtures
Friday 23 September
South Australia vs Victoria
Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide
10am ACST / 10.30am AEST
Kayo + Cricket.com.au
Sunday 25 September
South Australia vs Victoria
Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide
10am ACST / 10.30am AEST
Kayo + Cricket.com.au
