TWO Hunter Valley girls have been selected in the NSW Country team to contest the Toyota Australian Country Cricket Championship in Geraldton, Western Australia, from January 5 to 13.
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Singleton’s Nell Gibson and Scone’s Kirsten Smith were named after strong performances in the Sydney Women’s Grade Competition and are part of a new-look NSW team.
Three of last year’s side have taken opportunities presented with the rapid expansion of the female pathway.
Captain Lisa Griffith (Western) was picked up by the Thunder WBBL team, Amy Riddell (North Coast) is playing in Brisbane while Amy Edgar (Western) has moved to Perth.
Gibson is following in the footsteps of sister Maisy, who went through the NSW pathway to become the first Hunter girl to be contracted with Sydney Thunder in the WBBL.
Smith has also been part of NSW youth teams, clocking up hundreds of kilometres in travel to and from Scone each week to play cricket.
“I’m thrilled to have Nell and Kirsten selected in the team,” NSW mentor and former Breakers head coach Neil McDonald said.
“Their form this season has been exceptional.
“Both Nell and Kirsten bring particular skills to the team that will be vital as it looks to improve on its third placing last year.
“We finished top of the table in 2016 in Wollongong but lost the semi on the last ball to Victoria, relegating the girls to the 3 vs 4 play-off match.
“I’m sure they will be looking to go one better this championship.”
The T20 format is tough with no easy games.
Six of the eight matches last year were only decided in the final over with some won on the final ball.
The 2017-18 championship will be the second contested by NSW and the third in the history of the Australian Country Cricket Championship, which sees all states, the Northern Territory and a team from East Asia Pacific (EAP) compete.
The EAP team is made up of girls from Pacific Islands, Papua New Guinea and Japan and is the reigning champion.
The full NSW squad is: Kate Jackson (captain - North Coast), Katelyn Beaumont (North Coast), Rebecca Cady (Western), Bella Fitzgibbon (Central Coast), Nell Gibson (Central North), Sophie Heath (Illawarra), Tiegan Kavanagh (Central Coast), Matilda Lugg (North Coast), Jessica Marks (North Coast), Grace McDonald (North Coast), Naomi McDonald (North Coast), Mel Norup (North Coast), Kirsten Smith (Central North), Roxsanne Van-Veen (Western)
