WBBL young guns named in Aussie U19s

A host of Rebel WBBL young guns have been named in Australia’s Under-19 squad to travel to New Zealand in March.

A total of 10 players who hold Big Bash contracts are part of the 14-player squad, who will meet a New Zealand Emerging Players side in three 50-over games and one T20 at Lincoln’s Bert Sutcliffe Oval from March 12-17.

Among those is Brisbane Heat batter Josie Dooley, who played a key role in helping her club claim their maiden WBBL title at Drummoyne Oval on Saturday after making her Big Bash debut this summer.

She’s joined by allrounder Hayley Silver-Holmes, who was part of the Sydney Sixers XI in Saturday’s final, and Sixers teammate Tahlia Wilson who played five matches this summer.

Melbourne Stars regulars Annabel Sutherland and Nicole Fultum have also earned spots in the squad, as has Sydney Thunder leg-spinning allrounder Rachel Trenaman, who collected three wickets in five matches after debuting during WBBL|04.

It’s just the second time an Australian women’s under-19s team has toured overseas following last year’s historic tour of South Africa.

The players were selected at the conclusion of the Under 18 National Championships in Ballarat last week, with the squad to be coached by Australian assistant coach Shelley Nitschke.

“The selectors have chosen a really exciting and talented group of players that I’m really looking forward to working with, and hopefully they can benefit from the experience of playing in foreign conditions and against an opposition most of them are yet to face,” Nitschke said.

"With the additional opportunities young players are now being exposed to, we’re seeing them develop at a much quicker rate, with over half the squad holding WBBL contracts this season and quickly becoming household names."

“There’s players like Hayley Silver-Holmes who became the youngest player to make their WBBL debut this summer at just 15, Rachel Trenaman, Josie Dooley, Nicole Faltum and Annabel Sutherland who have stepped up to domestic cricket without a hitch, with plenty of others knocking on the door.

“I think that’s proof that the system is doing its job in developing the next generation of players who are ready to take that next step.”

Australia Under-19 squad

Isabelle Afaras (NSW Metro), Darcie Brown (South Australia), Stella Campbell (NSW Metro/Sydney Sixers), Maddy Darke (NSW Metro), Hannah Darlington (NSW Metro/Sydney Thunder), Josephine Dooley (Queensland/Brisbane Heat), Nicole Faltum (VIC Metro/Melbourne Stars), Charli Knott (Queensland/Brisbane Heat), Phoebe Litchfield (Cricket Australia XI), Hayley Silver-Holmes (NSW Metro/Sydney Sixers), Courtney Sippel (Queensland/Brisbane Heat), Annabel Sutherland (VIC Metro/Melbourne Stars), Rachel Trenaman (ACT/NSW Country/Sydney Thunder), Tahlia Wilson (NSW Metro/Sydney Sixers)

Australia Under 19 Tour of New Zealand

50-over matches: March 12, 14 and 15 at Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln

20-over match: March 17 at Bert Sutcliffe Oval