Photo Credit: Sydney Thunder
Rising Sydney Thunder star Phoebe Litchfield been named amongst the list of 17 women’s players offered national contracts by Cricket Australia for 2023-24.
Litchfield, who was recently named in Australia’s squad for the CommBank Women’s Ashes Tour of the UK 2023, has now been offered a CA contract for the first time.
Thunder stalwart Rachael Haynes drops off the contracted player list for the upcoming season, having retired last summer.
The contracts are primarily assessed on player performances during the past 12 months and identify those whom the National Selection Panel believe will represent Australian teams over the year ahead.
As outlined in the new MOU agreement, the number of women’s CA contracts has increased and all of those holding contracts will now be recognised as full-time athletes.Players not awarded contracts as part of the initial squad of 17 can earn upgrades throughout the year by accruing 12 upgrade points. Female players receive five points for a Test match, two for a One-Day International and two for a T20 International.
Cricket Australia’s Head of Performance (Women’s Cricket) and National Selector, Shawn Flegler said:
“It’s been an incredibly successful 12 months for the Australian women’s team, but our attention now turns to the challenges ahead, particularly the upcoming Ashes Series in England.
“Phoebe Litchfield is a young talent who we believe has a big future, she’s built her game upon a very sound technique and we’re confident she can transfer those skills into international cricket.
“We’ve had a core group of players performing well over the last 12 months which means some talented players have missed out, it’s certainly made selection tough but we’re in a fortunate position to have such depth across Australian Cricket.
“Importantly, there is still the opportunity for players not offered contracts to earn upgrades through consistent performances.
“We’re about to embark on a busy 12-month period, beginning with several training camps next month at the National Cricket Centre ahead of a Tour of the UK for Australia and Australia A squads.”
Cricket Australia 2023-24 contracted women’s players
Darcie Brown (SA/Northern Districts CC)
Ashleigh Gardner (NSW/Bankstown CC)
Kim Garth (VIC/Dandenong CC)
Heather Graham (TAS/Clarence District CC)
Grace Harris (QLD/Western Suburbs CC)
Alyssa Healy (NSW/Sydney CC)
Jessica Jonassen (QLD/Valley District CC)
Alana King (WA/Midland Guildford CC)
Meg Lanning (VIC/Box Hill CC)
Phoebe Litchfield (NSW/Penrith CC)
Tahlia McGrath (SA/Glenelg CC)
Beth Mooney (WA/Sandgate-Redcliffe CC)
Ellyse Perry (VIC/Dandenong CC)
Megan Schutt (SA/Sturt CC)
Annabel Sutherland (VIC/Prahran CC)
Tayla Vlaeminck (VIC/Plenty Valley CC)
Georgia Wareham (VIC/Essendon Maribyrnong Park Ladies CC)
Name of Author: Sydney Thunder
The Sydney Thunder is an Australian professional cricket team competing in the Big Bash League (BBL). Based at Sydney Showground Stadium, the Thunder, along with the Sydney Sixers, succeeded the New South Wales Blues from the defunct KFC Twenty20 Big Bash.
