Cricket Victoria has unveiled its under-16 and under-19 female emerging player programs for the 2025-26 season.
Female talent development manager Cassandra Brock said the talent in the squads was as a result of strong development and commitment of community and premier clubs.
Working directly with Cricket Victoria’s high performance coaching staff and experienced Victorian Premier Cricket coaches, identified players will spend two days a week developing their game technically, tactically, physically and mentally as they continue to learn about being part of a high-performance Program.
The pre-season program includes training sessions at the CitiPower Centre and the MCG with cricket skill development, physical preparation, education and center wicket scenarios as the focus.
Match opportunities will then kick off from September onwards.
The under-16 Country squad will be coached by former Australian player talent development specialist Jess Duffin and the metro squad by Sophie Strickland, who has been elevated from assistant coach to head coach this year.
Meanwhile, the coaching staff for the under-19’s programs include national championship winning head coach and Melbourne premier coach Teagan Parker, who moves from the under-16 program to coach the Country team, and Ringwood premier and premier all stars coach Chris O’Brien, who will coach the Metro team.
Among those in the under-16 Metro squad are Werribee’s Ananya Mahajan and April Chaudhary and Greenvale Kangaroos’ Shaina Barala. Former Sydenham-Hillside player Jasmine Kamboj has been named in the under-16 and under-19 metro teams, along with former Point Cook Centrals player and current Greenvale Kangaroos player Noura Abdul Qader.
Others in the under-19 Metro squad include Plenty Valley’s Holly Fulton and Rituja Talekar, former Caroline Springs player Mia Gordon, former Keilor player Ruby Gibson and former Point Cook Central Ira Aery.
Ballan’s Clover McIlwaine, Bacchus Marsh’s Tanae Grero and Riddell’s Tess McNair have been named in the under-16 Country squad.
Greenvale Kangaroos’ Bailey Holt and former Bacchus Marsh player Shameka Grero have been named in the under-19 country squad.
