SOME of Australia’s best cricket talent is on the Border this weekend as the ACT Meteors take on the Victorian Spirit ahead of the women’s national competition starting early next month.
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The Meteors include Australian opening bowler Rene Farrell and New Zealand’s Nicola Brown, a veteran of 180 international caps with the Kiwis.
But their opponents boast a star-studded line-up of five Southern Stars including captain Meg Lanning, batters Elyse Villani and Nicole Bolton and bowlers Julie Hunter and Kirsten Beams.
All are contracted cricketers.
Meteors coach Andrew Dawson said they entered the new season with a target on their backs.
“We are no longer a group of Cricket NSW discards, last year we knocked over NSW to make the Twenty20 final,” he said.
“Other sides will look at us to frank their credentials.
“We now need to back it up and show last year was no fluke.”
The Meteors will be without all-rounders Kate Owen and Sally Moylan who suffered hamstring injuries in a rain-interrupted quad series against South Australia, Tasmania and NSW a fortnight ago in Sydney.
Dawson said today’s one-dayer and a Twenty20 tomorrow at Alexandra Park would be a chance to test his squad.
“The Victorians have a host of stars and this will be a good test for our batters and bowling,” he said.
“For the attack it will be good to see how they execute the plan against someone like Lanning.
“It’s a chance to see how they cope.
“Just generally it will be nice to be outside rather than a net session or indoors.”
Dawson said the standard of women’s cricket had improved in the past decade.
“Obviously players are paid to be full-time professionals, so you need to be fit, athletic and skilful,” he said.
“In terms of their skill I would rate them well above grade cricket.”
Today’s 50-over game starts at 10.30am, with tomorrow’s Twenty20 from 9.30am.
