NORTH West has named the strongest CHS girls’ cricket team in over a decade, according to manager Wendy Blaker.
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Blaker can’t wait to get the girls to the crease at the State Championships in Armidale next February after she was left overwhelmed by the talent on display at the trials last Sunday.
“Numbers were a bit down but talent was way up,” Blaker said.
The trials saw 18 girls brave the heat at Farrer.
“Any other year any of the 18 girls would have made the squad.
“It is just a quality side this season but it was heartbreaking to leave some out.
“Ten years ago I struggled to get a team.”
Local protege Lara Graham has been named in the secondary school side while still at Nemingha Public.
Graham will be attending Oxley High by the time the carnival comes around.
Kareena Dawson (Duval) and Alyssa Ford (Narrabri) are also Year Six players in the side.
Graham has recently been named in the U15 Cricket NSW Academy team to play in the U15 National Championships this month.
She will line up against Narrabri’s Dahlia Glennie at those championships before becoming teammates for North West.
Glennie was named in the U15 NSW/ACT Country side.
Narrabri High’s Khiarni Cornish will captain the side and has been a part of the North West set-up since she too was selected in Year Six.
The batting allrounder will have the Lennon twins, Sarah and Kate, as part of the senior playing group.
The Inverell duo are hard to tell apart, although Kate bats left-handed and Sarah takes guard from the right, although both bowl right-handed.
Blaker has been waiting on the twins for four years.
The girls have been attending a Catholic school, although the school doesn’t have a Year 11 and 12 so they have moved to Inverell High.
“I have been watching what they have been doing in the Catholic system and waiting on them to come across,” Blaker said.
“The team just reads beautifully.”
Every girl in the side can bat and bowl, giving the squad plenty of options.
While they don’t have a dedicated spinner yet, developing one or two is high on the list.
“It could be a secret weapon,” Blaker said.
“We are hopefully going to develop a leggie and an offie.”
Blaker believes that the likes of local Australian star Erin Osborne and a few others have done wonders for girls’ cricket in the region.
“They just get better every year.”
“Every one of them has played for either North West or Central North or both.”
“They are all actual cricketers – we wouldn’t have got that five years ago.”
“It is very satisfying to see the extra opportunities and pathways for young girls and to know that I have played a part.”
The State Championships will be held in Armidale from February 16-19.