The 19-year-old leg spinner from Cobargo, Jade Allen re-signs with Sydney Sixers for the ninth edition of the Women’s Big Bash League. While this will be her third summer in Magenta, she first signed with the Sixers for WBBL 07 as a 17-year-old teenage prodigy in the middle of her Higher School Certificate. In 2021, she received her maiden state contract from the New South Wales Breakers.
She had a remarkable 2021/22 summer. She led the NSW Country at the 2022/23 under-19 National Championship where she sat handsomely in the second position of the most wickets list. And to add to her tally, she was more than handy with the bat, amassing an impressive 169 runs. This paved her way to the Australian team which reached the semi-finals of the ICC Under-19 World Cup. She is a rising all-rounder and playing under the leadership group of Charlotte Edwards and Ellyse Perry will help her develop steeply.
“Jade has been impressive over the last few summers as she builds on her craft, training and playing amongst some of the best players in the world, day in and day out. Last summer she came along in leaps and bounds and showed the potential she has to have a long and successful career. We are excited to continue that journey with her throughout WBBL|09 and I look forward to working with her again,” said the head coach, Edwards.
Playing alongside the likes of the Australian legend Ellyse Perry and the swash-buckling all-rounder Ash Gardner has been her dream come true moment, she said: “Ashleigh Gardner and Ellyse Perry are the players I’m most excited to be playing with this season, but all of the Aussie (team) girls are all so amazing and I’m always looking forward to training and playing alongside them.”
The Sixers will play the opening match of the WBBL 09 against Melbourne Stars, also this will be the first time when the matches will be played at some iconic Australian stadiums, she added: “I’m feeling excited for another year with the Sixers, it’s another opportunity to keep learning from the older girls in the group, so I’m quite keen for it. If I get an opportunity to play in the WBBL this season, playing a game at the SCG would be amazing, so I’ll take any opportunity.”
As a young player, her main focus will be to enjoy and learn as much as possible by being around experienced Internationals and Australians, she added: “I’m hoping to bring a bit of fun, obviously as one of the younger ones of the group, so I think just some laughter and freshness to the group is what I can add. I want to keep developing my skills and keep learning.”
Sydney Sixers WBBL|09 squad so far:
Jade Allen, Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns, Lauren Cheatle, Ash Gardner, Emma Hughes, Ellyse Perry (C)
(Quotes sourced from Sydney Sixers media release)
A budding writer, who is trying her level best to do her bit for Women’s cricket.