The South Australia women's cricket team, formerly known as the South Australian Scorpions, is the women's representative cricket team for the Australian State of South Australia. They play their home games at Adelaide Oval and Karen Rolton Oval. They compete in the Women's National Cricket League (WNCL), the premier 50-over women's cricket tournament in Australia. They previously played in the now-defunct Australian Women's Twenty20 Cup and Australian Women's Cricket Championships.
The team is selected and supported by the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA).
History 1935–1996: Australian Women's Cricket Championships South Australia's first recorded match was against Victoria in the Australian Women's Cricket Championships on 10 to 11 January 1935, which they lost by an innings and 184 runs. They continued to regularly play in the Championships until its final season in 1995–96. They won the title five times, making them the third most successful team after Victoria and New South Wales.
1996–present: Women's National Cricket League and Twenty20 Cup
South Australia joined the newly established WNCL in 1996–97. They have won one title, in 2015–16. Their best finish in the Australian Women's Twenty20 Cup was third in 2010–11.
Grounds South Australia have used a number of grounds over the years. Their first recorded home match against Western Australia in 1936 was played at Hindmarsh Oval, Adelaide. Historically they have played the vast majority of their home matches at various grounds in Adelaide.
After the inception of the WNCL in 1996, South Australia began playing regular matches at the Adelaide Oval and its adjacent ground, Adelaide Oval No 2, as well as various other grounds in Adelaide such as Park 25 and University Oval. Outside Adelaide, they played two matches in the 2006–07 WNCL at Centennial Park in Nuriootpa.
In the 2019–20 WNCL, South Australia played all of their home games at the Karen Rolton Oval, a newly upgraded ground located at Park 25 in Adelaide. They also played their three 2020–21 WNCL home games, their two 2021–22 WNCL home games and their six 2022–23 WNCL home games at the Karen Rolton Oval.
Players Current squad Based on squad announced for the 2024/25 season. Players in bold have international caps. No. Name Birth date Batting style Bowling style Notes Batters2 Emma de Broughe Right-handed Right-arm off break 21 Bridget Patterson Right-handed Right-arm medium 17 Courtney Webb Right-handed Right-arm leg break All-rounders57 Hollie Armitage Right-handed Right-arm leg break 15 Jemma Barsby Left-handed Right-arm off break, Slow left-arm orthodox Captain35 Eleanor Larosa Left-handed Left-arm medium 9 Tahlia McGrath Right-handed Right-arm medium 11 Madeline Penna Right-handed Right-arm leg break 33 Kate Peterson Right-handed Right-arm fast-medium 10 Amanda-Jade Wellington Right-handed Right-arm leg break Wicket-keepers13 Josie Dooley Right-handed — 23 Paris Hall Left-handed — 77 Ellie Johnston Right-handed Right-arm leg break Bowlers20 Darcie Brown Right-handed Right-arm medium-fast 13 Maggie Clark Left-handed Right-arm fast-medium 24 Emmerson Filsell Right-handed Right-arm medium-fast 86 Courtney Neale Right-handed Right-arm medium-fast 27 Megan Schutt Right-handed Right-arm medium-fast 8 Ella Wilson Right-handed Right-arm medium
Notable players Players who have played for South Australia and played internationally are listed below, in order of first international appearance (given in brackets):
Dot Laughton (1949) Ruth Dow (1957) Barbara Orchard (1957) Faith Thomas (1958) Margaret Jude (1963) Jill Need (1968) Wendy Blunsden (1972) Betty McDonald (1973) Janette Tredrea (1976) Jan Lumsden (1976) Kerry Mortimer (1976) Jill Kennare (1979) Jen Jacobs (1979) Lyn Fullston (1982) Lynley Hamilton (1982) Rhonda Kendall (1982) Annette Fellows (1984) Wendy Piltz (1984) Lee-Anne Hunter (1985) Andrea McCauley (1990) Joanne Broadbent (1990) Tunde Juhasz (1991) Isabelle Tsakiris (1992) Caroline Ward (1994) Olivia Magno (1995) Karen Rolton (1995) Charlotte Edwards (1996) Beth Morgan (1999) Leanne Davis (2000) Caroline Atkins (2001) Kate Oakenfold (2001) Kris Britt (2003) Jenny Gunn (2004) Shelley Nitschke (2004) Suzie Bates (2006) Sarah Taylor (2006) Sophie Devine (2006) Emma Sampson (2007) Lucy Doolan (2008) Lauren Ebsary (2008) Sarah Coyte (2010) Megan Schutt (2012) Tahlia McGrath (2016) Amanda-Jade Wellington (2016) Ashleigh Gardner (2017) Alicia Dean (2019) Darcie Brown (2021)
Coaching staff Head coach: Mick Delaney Assistant coach: Jude Coleman
Honours Australian Women's Cricket Championships: Winners (5): 1951–52, 1979–80, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1994–95 Women's National Cricket League: Winners (1): 2015–16 Australian Women's Twenty20 Cup: Winners (0): Best finish: 3rd (2010–11)
'All Time Best Team' In 2024 SACA members voted for and selected a greatest ever South Australian Women's team consisting of 12 players - called the 'All Time Best Team'. Women's All Time Best TeamLauren EbsaryJill KennareKaren RoltonShelley NitschkeRuth DowJoanne BroadbentTegan McPharlinLyn FullstonMegan SchuttBetty McDonaldFaith CoulthardMargaret Jude
See also
South Australian Cricket Association South Australia men's cricket team Adelaide Strikers (WBBL)
References