Victoria has unveiled its 13-player squad for their season-opening matches against NSW in the Women's National Cricket League, headlined by two potential debutants.
Sasha Moloney has made her first Victorian state squad selection after signing with Cricket Victoria in June.
The Melbourne Star all-rounder brings a wealth of top-level experience to Andy Christie's squad, having been an important member of the Tasmanian side for more than a decade, including during its recent WNCL three-peat.
Moloney has been joined in the squad by rising prodigy, Hasrat Gill, who earned her inaugural Victorian state contract after an outstanding 2023/2024 campaign for the Melbourne Cricket Club, which led to the rising star being included in the Australian Under-19's recent tri-series against Sri Lanka in the Sunshine State.
Victorian star, Meg Lanning, will be looking to repeat last year's heroics in which the thirty-two-year-old scored 492 runs at an astonishing 82-run average.
Ella Hayward and Sophie Reid have also been selected following strong pre-season campaigns.
After a long off-season, Victoria's women's side showed its exciting potential during this month's pre-season matches, winning all five games on the Sunshine State.
This impressive form followed on from last year's enthralling WNCL run that saw Victoria win seven of its final eight matches, playing a brand of cricket that took the competition by storm.
Victoria's Head of Female Cricket, Sharelle McMahon, said the Victorian women's side couldn't wait to get its season underway.
"The entire squad is so excited to begin this new WNCL season and put our hard work into action this weekend against NSW," said McMahon
"Andy Christie and his team have worked tirelessly in helping our squad maximise their focus and preparation and we believe we're in a great position to continue to build on the progress our side made during the backend of last season."
Victoria's women's team will face NSW at North Sydney Oval on Friday, October 4 and Sunday October 6, with the games beginning at 9:30 AM and 10 AM respectively. Both matches will be streamed by Kayo and cricket.com.au.
Victorian Women's 13-Player Squad:
- Nicole Faltum (Captain) – Dandenong CC
- Sophie Day – Prahran CC
- Tess Flintoff – Ringwood CC
- Poppy Gardner – Dandenong CC
- Hasrat Gill – Melbourne CC
- Ella Hayward – Melbourne CC
- Olivia Henry – Prahran CC
- Milly Illingworth – Geelong CC
- Meg Lanning – Box Hill CC
- Rhys McKenna – Prahran CC
- Sasha Moloney – Carlton CC
- Georgia Prestwidge – Melbourne CC
- Sophie Reid – (Carlton CC
