15-year-old named in Shooting Stars squad

A fifteen-year-old leg-spinner has been named in a squad of Australia’s brightest young talent to tour Sri Lanka at the end of this month.

Wagga Wagga teenager Rachel Trenaman is the youngest member of a 13-player Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars squad to tour the island nation, a group featuring a host of players who impressed for their states and for their Rebel Women’s Big Bash clubs during the 2016-17 summer.

Trenaman has been included in the development squad for the first time having played in the Governor-General’s XI against South Africa last November just five says before making her state debut for New South Wales.

Also named in the squad is ambidextrous Brisbane Heat allrounder Jemma Barsby, Strikers allrounder Tahlia McGrath – who made her international debut for the Southern Stars last November – and exciting Perth Scorchers products Piepa Cleary and Heather Graham.

Tasmania’s Georgia Redmayne is the sole overage player in the squad, the 23-year-old rewarded for a summer that saw her become the first Roar player to score a century in the Women’s National Cricket League before she starred with the bat and behind the stumps for the Hobart Hurricanes in WBBL|02.

“The players that have been included in this squad were all standouts across the summer, with some really impressive performances for their domestic sides and Women’s Big Bash League clubs,” National Selector Shawn Flegler said.

“It’s been really pleasing to see players like Georgia and Rachel perform strongly at an underage level for the last few seasons whilst those tied to WBBL clubs all played pivotal roles for their respective teams this season.

“This tour will allow these players to experience cricket in different conditions and will

play an important role in their ongoing development as future national players.”

The Shooting Stars will play three one-day internationals and three Twenty20s in Sri Lanka from March 27-April 11, coached by former Australian fast-bowler and Women’s Youth Coach Cathryn Fitzpatrick with Victoria and Melbourne Stars mentor David Hemp acting as Assistant Coach.

The squad will assemble at the Bupa National Cricket Centre in Brisbane on 26 March before flying to Colombo.

Shooting Stars squad: Jemma Barsby (Qld/Heat), Maitlan Brown (ACT/Renegades), Piepa Cleary (WA/Scorchers), Tess Cooper (Qld/Heat), Heather Graham (WA/Scorchers), Mikayla Hinkley (NSW/Thunder) (pending fitness), Alana King (Vic/Stars), Tahlia McGrath (SA/Strikers), Georgia Redmayne (Tas/Hurricanes), Lauren Smith (NSW/Sixers), Rachel Trenaman (NSW), Belinda Vakarewa (NSW/Thunder), Georgia Wareham (Vic/Renegades)

Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars v Sri Lanka schedule

30 March: First ODI, Moors, Colombo

1 April: Second ODI, Moors, Colombo

3 April: Third ODI, FTZ Katunayake, Colombo

6 April: First T20, Bloomfield, Colombo

8 April: Second T20, FTZ Katunayake, Colombo

10 April: Third T20, FTZ Katunayake, Colombo