Photo Credit: Cricket NSW
A quartet of rising teenagers will bolster the NSW Women’s team for 2024/25 with 19-year-old’s Sienna Eve, Elsa Hunter and Lauren Kua joining 18-year-old Kate Pelle on the Breakers’ list for the summer.
The Breakers squad, which is complemented by Australian contracted trio Alyssa Healy, Ash Gardner and Phoebe Litchfield, contains a promising blend of experienced veterans, Australian representatives and young up and comers ready to make their mark.
Erin Burns, Stella Campbell, Lauren Cheatle, Sarah Coyte and Hannah Darlington have all played for Australia at senior level, while Maitlin Brown, Tahlia Wilson and Sammy-Jo Johnson have represented Australia A.
But it is the four prodigious teens that will bring a new level of enthusiasm and excitement to head coach Gavan Twining’s group.
All four have progressed through the Cricket NSW pathway and are former Basil Sellers Scholarship holders.
Eve and Pelle have represented Australia at under 19 level, with Pelle having her first taste of professional cricket last summer with the Sydney Sixers in the WBBL. Elsa Hunter has been playing internationally for Malaysia since making her T20I debut as a 13-year-old in 2019.
Like Hunter, Kua was also born in Malaysia and last summer was the leading run scorer in NSW Premier Cricket’s top grade.
Cricket NSW Head of Female Elite Cricket, Leah Poulton, said the four teenagers brought on an exciting new era for the Breakers.
“It’s an exciting time for our program with these four talented young players joining what is already a strong squad with a great mix of skillsets and experience,” Poulton said.
“It’s been great to see the rise of Sienna, Elsa, Lauren and Kate through our pathway programs and Premier Cricket. They’ll have wonderful teammates and an outstanding group of coaches and support staff to learn from, I’m sure they’ll grab this opportunity with both hands.
“Our squad made significant strides in the back half of last season, winning five of their last six matches and we have a great platform to launch into this summer from.”
Three players have dropped off the contracted list from 2023/24 – Georgia Adams, Saskia Horley and Isa Malgioglio. Malgioglio and Adams are expected to play a role in the Breakers across the summer, while Scotland representative Horley was granted a release from the final year of her contract to make a permanent move to the UK.
“Georgia and Isa won’t be lost to our program. Isa is still in the early stages of a promising career, and we are looking to have Georgia back with us this summer.” Poulton said.
“We wish Saskia all the best in her move to the UK and look forward to seeing her when she returns for Sydney Thunder later in the year.”
The Breakers will return to training at Cricket Central in June.
NSW Breakers Squad 2024/25:
| Jade Allen | Parramatta | 20 | RA leg spin |
| Maitlan Brown | Sydney | 26 | RA fast / RH bat |
| Erin Burns | Bankstown Sports | 35 | RH bat / RA off spin |
| Stella Campbell | Northern District | 21 | RA fast |
| Lauren Cheatle | Campbelltown Camden | 25 | LA fast |
| Sarah Coyte | Campbelltown Camden | 33 | RA medium / RH bat |
| Hannah Darlington | Campbelltown Camden | 22 | RA medium / RH bat |
| Sienna Eve # | Northern District | 19 | LA orthodox |
| Ashleigh Gardner* | Bankstown Sports | 25 | RA off spin / RH bat |
| Alyssa Healy* | Sydney | 34 | RH bat / wicketkeeper |
| Ebony Hoskin | Manly Warringah | 21 | RA fast-medium |
| Elsa Hunter # | Gordon | 19 | RH bat |
| Sammy-Jo Johnson | Sydney | 31 | RA fast-medium / RH bat |
| Lauren Kua # | Manly Warringah | 19 | RH bat / RA leg spin |
| Anika Learoyd | Campbelltown Camden | 22 | RH bat |
| Phoebe Litchfield* | Sydney University | 21 | LH bat |
| Claire Moore | Parramatta | 20 | RH bat |
| Kate Pelle # | Parramatta | 18 | RH bat / wicketkeeper |
| Tahlia Wilson | St George-Sutherland | 24 | RH bat / wicketkeeper |
* Cricket Australia contract
# First NSW contract
Name of Author: Cricket NSW
Cricket NSW, officially the New South Wales Cricket Association, is the governing body for cricket in New South Wales, Australia. Based at Sydney Olympic Park, it oversees the New South Wales Blues, New South Wales Breakers, Sydney Thunder, and Sydney Sixers.
