Victoria confirm women’s contract list

The 20-player squad features four new faces and six Australian contracted players, the most of any state.

Pace bowling all-rounder Georgia Prestwidge will switch allegiances to Victoria from her home state, Queensland.

The 25-year-old – whose older brother, Jack, made his Victorian debut last season – has represented Queensland over the past eight years and adds another experienced player to the group.

A trio of homegrown talents have received their first Victorian contracts.

Plenty Valley batting all-rounder Jasmine Nevins and Essendon Maribyrnong Park fast bowler Milly Illingworth have both earned contracts, after making their respective debuts for Victoria last season.

Illingworth, 17, impressed on Victorian debut with figures of 4-41 after representing Australia at the Under 19 World Cup. Nevins, 19, featured in five WNCL matches after representing Vic Country at the CA U19 National Championships earlier in the summer.

Dandenong all-rounder Poppy Gardner was named in a Victorian squad last summer without making her debut. The 19-year-old enjoyed a superb year in Premier Cricket, as the competition’s equal third-highest wicket-taker (21) with her left-arm seamers and in the top ten run scorers (263 runs).

“We’re excited to welcome Georgia Prestwidge down to Victoria. With Kim Garth’s recent international recognition, Georgia’s addition will provide us with greater all-round depth and experience,” Cricket Victoria’s Head of Female Cricket, Sharelle McMahon said.

“Milly Illingworth and Jas Nevins both made their Victorian debuts last season and impressed us with their x-factor. Milly brings something different with pace and a unique bowling action while Jas was able to showcase her power with the bat and athleticism in the field.

“Poppy’s outstanding performances in Premier Cricket as well as a five-wicket haul in the Marg Jennings Cup showed us she was ready to be elevated to our contract list and we’re looking forward to her game further developing in a professional environment.”

All-rounder Kim Garth has received her maiden Cricket Australia contract, joining Victorian teammates Meg Lanning, Ellyse Perry, Annabel Sutherland, Tayla Vlaeminck and Georgia Wareham as centrally contracted players.

“It was really pleasing to have Kim Garth rewarded a CA contract after her performances in domestic cricket, we’re very fortunate to have six Australian contracted players on our list, the experience they can provide to our young squad is invaluable,” McMahon said.

Tiana Atkinson and Lucy Cripps have not been offered contracts for next season, while Makinley Blows retired from state cricket midway during the season.

Victoria will also release their 2023-24 Female Emerging Players Program squad in the coming weeks.

Squad: 
Sam Bates (Essendon Maribyrnong Park)
Sophie Day (Prahran)
Nicole Faltum (Dandenong)
Tess Flintoff (Ringwood)
Poppy Gardner (Dandenong)
Kim Garth* (Dandenong)
Ella Hayward (Melbourne)
Olivia Henry (Ringwood)
Milly Illingworth (Essendon Maribyrnong Park)
Meg Lanning* (Box Hill)
Rhys McKenna (Prahran)
Sophie Molineux (Dandenong)
Jasmine Nevins (Plenty Valley)
Rhiann O’Donnell (Melbourne)
Ellyse Perry* (Dandenong)
Georgia Prestwidge (TBC)
Sophie Reid (Carlton)
Annabel Sutherland* (Prahran)
Tayla Vlaeminck* (Plenty Valley)
Georgia Wareham* (Essendon Maribyrnong Park)

*Denotes player with a Cricket Australia contract

IN: Georgia Prestwidge (Queensland), Poppy Gardner, Milly Illingworth, Jasmine Nevins
OUT: Makinley Blows (retired) Lucy Cripps, Tiana Atkinson