ACB announces Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars team to play England
The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) today announced the Australian women's youth team, the Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars, to play England in a two-day match at Allan Border Field in Queensland next month (12-13 February).
Australian Cricket Board
21-Jan-2003
The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) today announced the Australian women's youth team, the Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars, to play England in a two-day match at Allan Border Field in Queensland next month (12-13 February).
The team is:
| Player | State | Player type |
|---|---|---|
| Leah Poulton (captain) | New South Wales | RHB, LB |
| Belinda Matheson (vice-captain) | Queensland | RHB, OB |
| Sarah Andrews | New South Wales | RHB, RM |
| Charlotte Anneveld | New South Wales | RHB, RM |
| Kelly Applebee | Victoria | RHB, RM |
| Kate Blackwell | New South Wales | RHB, RM |
| Lauren Ebsary | South Australia | RM, RHB |
| Sharon Millanta | New South Wales | RM, LHB |
| Ingrid Noack | Victoria | RHB, OB |
| Jodie Purves | Queensland | RHB, WKT |
| Emma Sampson | South Australia | LHB, RM |
| Megan White | Queensland | RHB, RM |
Team Management: Joanne Broadbent (coach), Rina Hore (team manager), Nicole Taylor (assistant coach), Jenny Birkel (physiotherapist).
Included in the Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars side for the first time are New South Wales medium-pace bowlers Charlotte Anneveld and Sharon Millanta.
Millanta, 22, played six matches in the Women's National Cricket League in 2002-03, including last weekend's final against Victoria Spirit at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, while Anneveld, 21, made her state debut this season against the Southern Scorpions in November.
Leah Poulton and Belinda Matheson assume the leadership duties, the duo having successfully steered the Australian under-19 side to victory against the England under-19 team in two limited-over matches at Bowral last week (January 14 and 15).
The pair also led their respective states to the final of the Australian Under-19 Championship - Female in Canberra earlier this month as Queensland defeated New South Wales to claim its first under-19 female title.
Joining Poulton and Matheson from the Australian under-19 team that defeated the England under-19 side is Queensland batter and wicket-keeper Jodie Purves.
The England senior women's team arrives in Australia on Monday 10 February for two Ashes Tests against the Australian women's team, the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars, at Brisbane's Gabba (15-18 February) and Sydney's Bankstown Oval (22-25 February).
The Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars take on England in a two-day match at Allan Border Field as a lead-in game to the visitors' Ashes campaign.
The Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars team was chosen by the three-person national selection panel consisting of former Australian players Margaret Jennings (Chairperson) and Wendy Weir, and former Australian coach Peter Bakker.
Jennings said the international matches provided valuable experience for Australia's emerging players.
"This is an opportunity for some of our talented players to gain experience at an international level to help bridge the gap between youth and senior cricket," said Jennings.
"England will provide tough opposition as they will be looking to fine-tune their preparation for the Ashes Tests.
"We have selected a side that we think is capable of testing a quality international team and it's a good chance to see how our young players face this challenge," she said.