The second annual exhibition Green vs Gold red-ball clash is all set to take place at Canberra’s Phillip Oval, from March 12-14, setting the stage for England A’s tour of Australia. The visitors will compete in a Sydney-based series featuring three T20s, three one-dayers, and a four-day match from March 26 to April 15, later on.
A group of 30 promising Australian cricketers, including newly selected T20I squad member Nicole Faltum and the Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL) Player of the Season Tahlia Wilson, will compete in this month’s three-day Green v Gold match before representing Australia A in a multi-format series against arch-rivals England A.
Nicole Faltum, recently selected as Australia’s reserve wicketkeeper for the upcoming T20I tour of New Zealand, will lead the Green team in the three-day contest. On the other hand, Queensland all-rounder Charli Knott, who has been in fine form, will lead the Gold XI. The match will be an important chance for players to prove their red-ball credentials before the Australia A series. With national spots on the line, the battle is likely to be closely contested.
Faltum delivered an impeccable run in the WNCL, Australia’s premier 50-over domestic tournament, amassing 438 runs across 12 innings at 36.50, with her personal best score of 90. The batter showed remarkable consistency with her batting prowess, supporting the team with stability.
The tournament equally belonged to all-rounder Charli Knott, who was sensational throughout the league for Queensland. Knott piled up 556 runs in 13 appearances at a remarkable average of 50.54, with one hundred and four fifties to her badge. Contributing to her impressive run with the bat, she also performed decently with the ball in hand, scalping 14 wickets from 13 innings, with best figures of 3/22.
The seasoned spin bowling all-rounder Amanda-Jade Wellington made serious statements at the WNCL as the competition’s top wicket-taker, taking 29 wickets from 12 games. Notably, the Player of the WNCL final, Anika Learoyd who contributed with a vital knock of 80 off 110 balls, also finds a spot in the upcoming Green v Gold red-ball game.
Mentioning the emerging players, 21-year-old Grace Dignam stood out with 17 wickets in 12 innings, including her best spell of 4/44. Sianna Ginger also chipped in, taking 15 wickets in 13 innings, with the best 4/49 spell to recall. Their performances highlighted the richness of the talent pool in the WNCL, with some established and a few new faces making a good impression.
For the second consecutive year, the Green v Gold match will offer domestic cricketers a platform to showcase their skills in multi-day cricket. The fixture, first held in Adelaide the previous year, is designed to strengthen Australia’s red-ball depth at the domestic level. With another edition set to unfold, the contest continues to serve as a crucial steppingstone for players aspiring to break into higher ranks of the game.
Squads:
Green: Nic Faltum (C), Katie Mack (VC), Lauren Cheatle, Maddy Darke, Grace Dignam, Sianna Ginger, Ella Hayward, Elsa Hunter, Lilly Mills, Georgia Prestwidge, Gabby Sutcliffe, Rachel Trenaman, Amanda-Jade Wellington
Gold: Charli Knott (C), Bridget Patterson (VC), Maitlan Brown, Hannah Darlington, Sophie Day, Emma de Broughe, Amy Edgar, Tess Flintoff, Nicola Hancock, Anika Learoyd, Amy Smith, Courtney Webb, Tahlia Wilson
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