Thursday 11 March 2010

Konica Minolta Queensland Fire batting trump Melissa Bulow is the conspicuous absentee from the 2010-11 AIS-Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars squad announced today by Cricket Australia.

Bulow, Queensland’s all-time leading runs-scorer and only second player to register 100 games for her State, was not included in the 18-player squad named today.

Queensland Fire pace bowler Delissa Kimmince was also not named in the squad and is expected to focus on playing for Queensland next season.

Current Southern Stars and Fire captain Jodie Fields and experienced pace bowler Kirsten Pike were both selected for the 2010 squad.

Bulow, who had been named last month in the preliminary 30-player Australian squad to prepare for the ICC World Twenty20 Cup in the West Indies in May, is desperately unlucky not to have won a recall to the national squad.

She racked up 481 runs at 60.13 in the WNCL and went past 3000 career runs for Queensland.

Meanwhile promising 19-year-old Beenleigh/Logan pace bowler Kathryn Jenkin has earned her first berth in the Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars (under-21) squad alongside fellow teenagers Jessica Jonassen and Selena Tainton.

Jenkin made her Konica Minolta Queensland Fire WNCL and T20 debuts this season.

Departing the Southern Stars list are the retired Karen Rolton (South Australia) and Sarah Andrews (New South Wales), while Kimmince (Queensland) was not available for selection and Kate Blackwell (New South Wales) also missed out on selection.

Newcomers for 2010-11 are Julie Hunter (Victoria), Kristen Beams (Victoria) and Julie Woerner (South Australia).

Commenting on the squad, WNSP Chair Christina Matthews said;

“The WNSP is continuing the rebuilding process following the retirements of Karen Rolton and Sarah Andrews and believes the players selected will form the basis of the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars for many years to come,” Matthews said.

“Victorians Julie Hunter and Kristen Beams and South Australian Julie Woerner have been rewarded for consistent strong performances over the last two Women’s National Cricket League and WNCL Twenty20 seasons.

“With the average age of the squad just 24, the more experienced players will play a significant role in the development of the team over the next 12 months in assisting with the continued development of our younger players.

“We believe we’ve selected a very talented squad and we look forward to seeing how they progress over the next 12 months, starting with the ICC World Twenty20 in May.”

Acting AIS Director Philip Borgeaud said he was extremely proud of the AIS program’s role in the development of women’s cricket.

“Women’s cricket is going from strength to strength in Australia, and with new talent emerging with ever better skills and performance we at the AIS are immensely proud of our contribution to the development of the players,” he said.

The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars squad will attend a camp at the Cricket Australia Centre of Excellence (COE) from April 8 – 12 ahead of the ICC World Twenty20 in the Caribbean.

The 2009-10 Australian Institute of Sport (AIS)-Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars squad is:

Name State Age

Kristen Beams VIC 25

Alex Blackwell NSW 26

Jessica Cameron* VIC 20

Lauren Ebsary WA 26

Sarah Elliott VIC 28

Rene Farrell WA 23

Jodie Fields QLD 25

Rachael Haynes VIC 23

Alyssa Healy* NSW 19

Julie Hunter VIC 26

Erin Osborne* NSW 20

Shelley Nitschke SA 33

Ellyse Perry* NSW 19

Kirsten Pike QLD 25

Leah Poulton NSW 26

Lisa Sthalekar NSW 30

Elyse Villani* VIC 20

Julie Woerner SA 25

* These players are eligible to play at under-21 level and will also be available for selection in the Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars squad.

Meanwhile, the 2009-10 Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars (under-21) squad was also announced today by the WNSP.

The Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars squad is:

Name State Age

Cassie Brock VIC 19

Sarah Coyte NSW 18

Katelyn Fryett TAS 17

Alyssa Healy* NSW 19

Kathryn Jenkin QLD 19

Jessica Jonassen QLD 17

Claire Koski NSW 18

Meg Lanning VIC 17

Ellyse Perry* NSW 19

Emilee Preston ACT 19

Angela Reakes NSW 19

Selena Tainton QLD 19

Gemma Triscari WA 20

Elyse Villani* VIC 20

*AIS-Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars squad member under 21 years of age