Kimmince to miss season

Queensland Fire and Southern Stars pace bowler Delissa Kimmince has announced she will take a 12-month sabbatical from the game to pursue a career as a fire fighter.

Kimmince, 21, informed Queensland Cricket on Friday that she would not be a part of the Fire squad for the 2010-11 season and will shortly commence training with the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service.

She has been replaced in the squad by University of Queensland pace bowler Lynda Petherick, who was a member of last year’s Fire team.

Kimmince, who made her national debut as an 18-year-old and has played 10 ODIs and a Twenty20 International, met with Queensland Cricket Chief Executive Officer Graham Dixon and new Fire coach Andy Richards to outline her decision after being named last month in the Queensland squad.

“Dee explained that she wanted to embark on a career and felt that it wouldn’t be fair to Queensland Cricket or to her new employers if she tried to juggle an elite sporting career as well enter the workforce,” Richards said.

“At this stage, she has told us that she is looking to reassess things next year to see what her options look like. It’s a blow to us, but we do understand the challenges the girls face when it comes to balancing career and cricket.”

“We’re pretty fortunate though that Lynda is available to slot in. She had a tough time of it with injury last season but she’s very keen to have a big summer,” he said.

Kimmince also met with Southern Stars coach Richard McInnes to advise him of her decision.

Kimmince will miss all of the 2010-11 Women’s National Cricket League.

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), Bethany Mooney (Wide Bay*), Hayley Pattison (Sandgate-Redcliffe), Kirsten Pike (Sandgate-Redcliffe), Lynda Petherick (University of Queensland), Leteysha Randall (Beenleigh/Logan), Selena Tainton (University of Queensland), Fran Whittaker (Beenleigh/Logan).

* indicates will play for Sandgate-Redcliffe in the Katherine Raymont Shield competition. Coach: Andy Richards.

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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