In the Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL) 2026-27, New South Wales (NSW) Breakers finished at the top of the table last season with an impressive 49 points, claiming 11 victories out of 12 matches with a high net run rate of +1.034. Queensland sat right behind them in second place, securing 8 wins and 36 points to complete the top two. With both sides coming off strong campaigns, this opening fixture sets up an immediate clash between last season’s premier standard-setters.
Squads:
New South Wales Breakers Women’s Cricket Team
Anika Learoyd, Claire Moore, Elsa Hunter, Frankie Nicklin, Katie Mack, Phoebe Litchfield, Tara French, Ash Gardner, Caoimhe Bray, Ellyse Perry, Erin Burns, Alyssa Healy, Kate Pelle, Tahlia Wilson, Hannah Darlington, Jade Allen, Lauren Cheatle, Maitlan Brown, Samantha Bates, Sarah Coyte, Sienne Eve
Queensland Fire Women’s Cricket Team
Annie O’Neil, Laura Harris, Lucy Bourke, Charli Knott, Lucy Hamilton, Sianna Ginger, Georgia Redmayne, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Mikayla Wrigley, Bonnie Berry, Jess Jonassen, Lily Bassingthwaighte, Nicola Hancock
Players to watch out:
Katie Mack
Katie Mack had an absolute powerhouse outing last season for the NSW Breakers, finishing as the competition’s leading run-scorer. She accumulated 659 runs across 13 innings at an impressive average of 59.90, displaying incredible consistency at the top of the order. With 6 half-centuries to her name and a top score of 99, she anchored the batting unit reliably while scoring at a healthy strike rate of 89.53.
Georgia Redmayne
Georgia Redmayne was the bedrock of Queensland’s batting lineup during their successful campaign, amassing 558 runs in 12 matches. She led from the front with four magnificent centuries—the most by any batter in the tournament—including an unbeaten 125. Operating at a solid average of 55.80 and striking at nearly 85, her top-order resistance provided the Fire with crucial momentum all season.
Lauren Cheatle
Lauren Cheatle was the standout bowler of the 2025-2026 WNCL season, spearheading the NSW Breakers’ attack with ruthless efficiency. She finished as the tournament’s top wicket-taker, snaring 29 wickets in 13 matches at an outstanding average of 15.68. Keeping batters tied down with an economy rate under four an over (3.96), her best figures of 4/32 showcased her ability to break games open at key moments.
Sianna Ginger
Sianna Ginger enjoyed a brilliant season with the ball for Queensland, providing crucial breakthroughs throughout their campaign. She bagged 20 wickets in 13 matches at a neat average of 25.80, proving to be one of the most reliable options in the Fire’s bowling setup. Maintaining an impressive economy rate of 4.76, her top performance of 4/35 highlighted her skill in containing runs while consistently striking in the middle overs.
Pitch:
Cricket Central in Sydney Olympic Park features a modern, purpose-built surface designed primarily for high-performance training, pathways, and domestic fixtures. Batter-friendly true pace allows for strokeplay once players get accustomed to the fresh grass cover, while seamers can extract light early assistance under humid conditions.
Weather:
Sydney promises bright, sunny skies with a high of 20°C and a low around 12°C, accompanied by light to moderate northeasterly winds and negligible chance of rain.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Anika Learoyd, Claire Moore, Elsa Hunter, Frankie Nicklin, Katie Mack, Phoebe Litchfield, Annie O’Neil, Laura Harris, Lucy Bourke, Charli Knott, Sianna Ginger
Match Details:
Date – September 29, 2026
Time – 5:30 AM IST
Venue – Cricket Central, Sydney
Broadcast – The game will be live-streamed on cricket.com.au.
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