Women and girls were the toast of Australia’s cricketing community last week, with their remarkable contributions celebrated by countless clubs across the country, including in WA.
WA Embraces Women and Girls Week
Cricket Australia’s Women and Girls Week, first launched in November 2022, celebrates the incredible females who have shaped, and continue to shape, cricket across Australia.
Additionally, the annual celebration invites people to explore how they can give cricket a go – whether by playing, supporting, umpiring, coaching, volunteering or attending the game.
Among the many organisations to embrace the week was Perth Cricket Club, which held a combined training session with its B-Grade, Under-17 and Under-14 female teams.
“We then got some pizzas delivered so the girls could get to know each other across teams a little bit better,” Perth Under-14 Girls coach Nicole Northcott said.
“My girls loved it, especially the ones who are moving up next season and are quite nervous about playing with the Under-17s. It was a fabulous success.”
Kingsley Woodvale Junior Cricket Club (KWJCC) invited its Under-13 female team to share their excitement for the sport, as well as a few batting and bowling tips, during a Woolworths Cricket Blast (WWCB) session.
The Club has strategically scheduled its older female players to train on Friday nights, showing WWCB participants the pathways available to them if they pursue cricket.
“It’s been critical to foster a caring and supportive environment to allow the girls to develop their skills in a safe environment,” said Aaron Le Page, KWJCC Girls Coordinator and Under-13 coach.
“It’s really important to show the Club and broader community that we have a thriving Girls program, and that it’s a great sport for girls to get involved in and break down the stigma of cricket being a boys game.”
WA Cricket, meanwhile, hosted a Women in Cricket Leadership Peer Mentoring event at the WACA Ground, where attendees heard from new CEO John Stephenson, met like-minded women, and watched an enthralling Perth Scorchers Weber WBBL|10 match.
Later in the week, WA Cricket’s Under-16 and Under-19 girls united to lead a community training session on the iconic WACA Ground outfield.
The afternoon featured several skill-based training games – allowing all participants to strut their stuff in front of the state’s next generation of stars – before finishing with an engaging Q&A.
Women and Girls Week coincided with the business end of the WBBL|10 season. Perth Scorchers are currently occupying the last finals berth with one match remaining, a solitary point ahead of fifth-placed Hobart Hurricanes.