Under-15 National Championships preview

In the build-up to the tournament, the Victorian squad has been training at the MCG and playing club cricket on the weekends.

A number of the squad have been part of their club’s Premier Firsts teams, which has given them the opportunity to play with and against some of the best players not only in the state, but the country.

Opening batsman, Annabel Sutherland, has had a good start to the season for top-of-the-ladder side Prahran.

The 14-year old has a top score of 66* this season, which came against Dandenong, where she shared 164-run and 98-run partnerships with Jess Cameron and Emma Inglis respectively.

Both Cameron and Inglis came through Cricket Victoria’s Pathway system and have gone on to national honours.

Sutherland is also a useful bowler and has taken 3 wickets at 25.33 runs this season.

Another batsman who opens for her club, Plenty Valley, is Sophie Van de Heuvel.

She has also had a fine start to the season, with a top score of 43, in a team that is still searching for their first win of the season.

Top-order batsman, Alana D’Aquino, is another in form player, averaging 27.50 for Melbourne CC in their Premier Seconds team.

The squad’s bowlers have also had a strong start to the season with Box Hill’s medium-fast bowler, Bella Gietzmann, taking seven wickets at 21.71.

Gietzmann will be looking to have a strong tournament after missing out last year due to a back injury.

Erika Quinn who opens the bowling for Coburg CC with their Premier Seconds team has taken four wickets at 14.25 this season.

Rosie Wynd who plays for Port Fairy Cricket Club is in form with the ball and has taken 12 wickets at 15.58 so far this season.

Victoria begin their campaign today against New South Wales Metropolitan at Lindisfarne Oval.