New South Wales schoolgirl Ellyse Perry is poised to become the youngest Australian cricketer ever after the 16-year-old was named in the 13-player Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars women’s squad to play New Zealand in the Top End Series next month.
Perry and South Australia’s Kris Britt are the new faces named by the National Selection Panel to contest the six-match series against New Zealand at Gardens Oval in Darwin.
A right-arm medium fast bowler and right-hand bat, Perry is considered a genuine all-round prospect and toured New Zealand with the Australian under-23 team earlier this year. She will become the youngest player to represent Australia if selected, surpassing Julie Stockton, who was 17 years 104 days when she made her one-day international debut.
“Ellyse is an extremely athletic and talented prospect and her selection fulfils the needs of the team as the fourth pace bowling option after Cathryn Fitzpatrick’s retirement and Kirsten Pike’s unavailability for this series,” former Australia captain and chair of selectors Margaret Jennings said.
Britt returns to the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars for the first time since 2004 after a solid season with the South Australia Scorpions in last year's Commonwealth Bank Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL). A right-hand bat and right-arm leg break bowler, Britt played the last of her nine one-day internationals against New Zealand in Hobart more than three years ago.
“Kris Britt’s return to the national team is a fitting reward after a strong season in the national league ,” Jennings said.
Commenting on the overall team selection, Jennings said the selection panel would learn a lot about the squad in how it handles the absence of Fitzpatrick, the world's highest wicket-taker in one-day internationals.
“We were happy with the team’s performances to win a four-nation tournament in India earlier this year, but with Cathryn’s retirement it will be interesting to see how the rest of the group reacts without a player of her calibre.”
The Top End Series will contain a Twenty20 international and a five-match one-day international Rose Bowl Series between the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars and the New Zealand White Ferns from 19-29 July.
Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars | ||||||
Player | Age | State | Player style | Twenty20s | ODIs | Tests |
Sarah Andrews | 25 | NSW | RM, RHB | 1 | 10 | 1 |
Alex Blackwell | 23 | NSW | RHB, RM | 1 | 35 | 5 |
Kate Blackwell | 23 | NSW | RHB, RM | 2 | 24 | 3 |
Kris Britt | 24 | SA | RHB, LB | 0 | 9 | 1 |
Melissa Bulow | 26 | QLD | RHB | 1 | 14 | 1 |
Sarah Edwards | 25 | VIC | RHB, LB | 1 | 6 | 0 |
Shelley Nitschke | 30 | SA | LHB, SLA | 1 | 32 | 3 |
Ellyse Perry | 16 | NSW | RHB, RMF | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Jodie Purves | 22 | QLD | RHB, WKT | 1 | 15 | 1 |
Karen Rolton (c) | 32 | SA | LHB, LM | 2 | 108 | 12 |
Emma Sampson | 21 | SA | RMF, LHB | 0 | 4 | 0 |
Clea Smith | 28 | VIC | RM, RHB | 0 | 39 | 1 |
Lisa Sthalekar (vc) | 27 | NSW | RHB, OB | 2 | 61 | 5 |
Player style key: RHB – right-hand bat, LHB – left-hand bat, WKT – wicket- keeper, SLA – slow left-arm orthodox spinner, OB – right-arm off-spinner, LB – right-arm leg break, RM – right-arm medium, RMF – right-arm medium fast, LM – left-arm medium, LMF – left-arm medium fast |
Top End Series Schedule
Twenty20 International
Thursday 19 July - Australia v New Zealand, Darwin
Rose Bowl Series
Saturday 21 July - Australia v New Zealand, Darwin
Sunday 22 July - Australia v New Zealand, Darwin
Wednesday 25 July - Australia v New Zealand, Darwin
Saturday 28 July - Australia v New Zealand, Darwin
Sunday 29 July - Australia v New Zealand, Darwin
For more information, please contact:
Matthew Slade
Cricket Australia Public Affairs
Tel: 03 9653 8803 or 0409 916 474