New challenge for Queensland Fire in 2010-11

The Queensland Fire squad will have a new coach and new look for the 2010-11 Women’s National Cricket League summer.

After seven seasons as coach, former Australian player Joanne Broadbent has stood down to focus on her role as women’s cricket development manager for Queensland Cricket.

She has been replaced by Queensland Women’s Youth coach Andy Richards, who has been QC’s Wide Bay regional cricket manager based in Hervey Bay.

Richards has been in charge of the Queensland Under-17 team for the past two seasons where they achieved top three finishes in each of their national title campaigns.

Queensland Cricket Chief Executive Officer Graham Dixon said Richards was the logical choice as the new coach.

“He has a passion for women’s cricket and has had experience and success at youth level where he has been highly regarded by all associated with our Youth program,’’ he said.

“His appointment also means that we can dedicate more effort to growing the game in this State. For women’s cricket to continue to expand, we believe we need to devote more time and resources to development and lifting participation to a new level.

“Joanne’s background in high performance and development means she is ideally suited to drive our program and generate higher participation numbers, which is in line with Cricket Australia’s strategy to ensure cricket is Australia’s favourite sport,” Dixon said.

First time inclusions in the Fire squad includes Beenleigh/Logan ‘keeper/bat Fran Whittaker, 17-year-old Sandgate-Redcliffe pace bowler Hayley Pattison, 16-year-old Hervey Bay wicket-keeper Beth Mooney and Beenleigh/Logan pace bowler Kathryn Jenkin.

Beenleigh/Logan allrounder Leteysha Randall, a former Australian Youth squad member, also returns to the squad after making her comeback to the Fire ranks last season following a lengthy absence due to injury.

AIS Southern Stars captain Jodie Fields has been named captain, although will miss the start of the season as she continues to rehabilitate from hamstring surgery that ruled her out of the recent World Twenty20 championships.

Meanwhile the women’s Queensland Academy of Sport squad includes three regionally-based players with Haidee Birkett (Charters Towers), Holly Ferling (Kingaroy) and Samantha Taylor (Gladstone) named.

Sandgate-Redcliffe allrounder Jemma Barsby, the 15-year-old daughter of current Queensland Bulls coach Trevor, has also been picked in the QAS squad for the first time.

Barsby and fellow QAS selection Elizabeth Hayes, a left-arm quick from Redlands, were named in the Australian Under-15 team following the national U-15 titles last season.

Birkett was awarded the Junior Sportsperson of the Year award by the Charters Towers Regional Council earlier this year while 16-year-old pace bowler Ferling made national headlines last season when she took four wickets in an over including a hat-trick in senior men’s cricket debut in Kingaroy.

Barsby, Hayes, Birkett, Ferling and Jordan Walker were all members of the Queensland Under-15 team last season while Barsby, Taylor and Grace Harris (Wests) were teammates in the Queensland Under-17 team.

The Queensland Cricket Board of Directors also endorsed the reappointment of the State women’s selection panel, with Paul Pink (chair), Glenda Hall and Kay Toshach to serve in the role for the 2010-11 season.

Not offered a playing contract for the 2010-11 season were pace bowler Jude Coleman, allrounder Kirby Short and batter Casey Reibelt while batter Danielle Hollis has stepped down from representative cricket due to her work commitments as a paramedic.

All-rounder Jo-Ann Verrall is another missing from the squad as she recovers from shoulder and back injuries that presented her from playing the bulk of last season.

The WNCL this season will be expanded to seven teams with the admission of the Tasmanian Roar to the competition, which will feature one-day and Twenty20 matches. Cricket Australia will release the 2010-11 draw in the near future.

The early rounds of the competition will serve as an important selection trial before the Southern Stars – the 2010 ICC World Twenty20 champions – meet England, winners of the 2009 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup and 2009 ICC World Twenty20, at home in early 2011.

2010-11 Queensland Fire squad:

Jodie Fields (Wests, capt), Melissa Bulow (Wests), Lyndall Daley (University of Queensland), Courtney Hill (Rockhampton*), Rebecca Hollindale (Bundaberg*), Kathryn Jenkin (Beenleigh/Logan), Jessica Jonassen (University of Queensland), Delissa Kimmince (Beenleigh/Logan), Bethany Mooney (Wide Bay*), Hayley Pattison (Sandgate-Redcliffe), Leteysha Randall (Beenleigh/Logan), Selena Tainton (University of Queensland), Fran Whittaker (Beenleigh/Logan). Coach: Andy Richards.

* indicates will play for Sandgate-Redcliffe in the Katherine Raymont Shield competition.

2010-11 QAS Rookies:

Jemma Barsby (Sandgate-Redcliffe), Haidee Birkett (Charters Towers), Holly Ferling (Kingaroy), Grace Harris (Wests), Elizabeth Hayes (Redlands), Samantha Taylor (Gladstone), Jordan Walker (Beenleigh/Logan).

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