Donna wins SACA Community Cricket Volunteer of the Year (South Central Metro)

Congratulations to Donna Clark who was presented with the South Central Metro Community Volunteer of the Year Award.  This was presented before the Strikers v Hurricanes game at the Adelaide Oval New Years Eve.

Thanks to the SACA for the presentation of these awards recognising the efforts of volunteers in the Cricket Community.

Part of Donna's entry included:

Donna plays cricket both Indoor and Outdoor.  She is a coach, a volunteer, a member of committees, role model and embraces Cricket Australia’s vision to be Australia’s favourite sport.  She is always keen to pass on her enthusiasm for the game to the next generation of cricketers.....

Donna not only sets an example with her coaching – but she is very willing to promote the Cricket in a variety of mediums (blogs, school assemblies, national TV programs and publicity shots for The Messenger and School Newsletters.)

She sees the issue of retention of players very important to the sustainable growth of the game.  She is very good at welcoming new players and parents to the club.....   As part of this she works one on one with young players new to the club.  She willing offers her coaching expertise working with female players in the 10-15 age group.  This gives her an opportunity to get to know the new players and in turn gives them a role model.

2013 Winner Trish Pinder and 2014 winner Donna Clark

with SACA boss Keith Bradshaw

Taylor made Scorpion

from

Our Sporting Life SA

A South Australian website publication that delivers a passionate and unique insight into SA Sport

By Andrew Frackowski

The South Australia Cricket Association is renowned for attracting the best cricketers from throughout the world for many years.
England star Sarah Taylor has now joined the famous list of names to wear the South Australian colours.
She accompanies an impressive history of recruits such as Sir Donald Bradman, Les Favell, West Indian Sir Garfield Sobers, New Zealand's Jeff Crowe, Zimbabwe's Andy Flower and Pakistan star Younis Kahn who have all made the trip to play for SA.
More recently we've seen former South African and now Redbacks/Strikers captain Johan Botha along with World T20 superstar West Indian Kieron Pollard.
Now SA women's team the Scorpions, have their own international star recruit, England's wicketkeeper and top order batter Sarah Taylor.
SACA Chief Executive Officer Keith Bradshaw was the catalyst behind recruiting Taylor and the English superstar is enjoying her time in the city of churches.
"I had never been to Adelaide before and wanted to explore somewhere new," Taylor explains.
"Keith Bradshaw was also kind enough to promise me a BBQ under the famous Adelaide Oval Scoreboard, which he duly delivered!
"The weather has been stunning so far and from what I hear it's a little warmer than home."
Taylor, 25, recently achieved her third consecutive International Cricket Council (ICC) award, named 2014 Women's One Day International Cricketer of the Year, coming as a complete surprise to her.
"It is a complete honour and was a shock when I got the news, we (England) have had a fantastic year as a team and I am glad I could contribute.
She has also secured the 2012 and 2013 ICC T20 International Women's Cricketer of the Year awards.
Taylor has played 90 One Day Internationals scoring 2,899 runs at an average of 39.71 including 5 centuries and 14 half centuries. She has also played 67 T20 Internationals with an impressive batting average of 30.90 and strike
rate of 108 which includes 11 half centuries.
Growing up in Seaford, a town on the South Coast of England, Taylor enjoyed a range of sports which included football (soccer), hockey, netball and
squash to name a few.
At the age of nine, Taylor was introduced to cricket when asked to attend an
after school cricket club.
Cricket then continued for her through Telscombe Cliffs Primary School where she progressed through to Brighton College playing First XI Boys Cricket.
She then went on to be selected for Sussex senior women's team at 14.
"When I was 15 I was asked to train with the England Academy and a few years later got my first cap for England," she said
"It all happened so quickly."
Whilst being at Brighton College, Taylor was also in the Sussex Academy, she
believes combining College and Academy made the transition to the next level
easier.
"Doing both excelled my cricket so dramatically that it helped me perform at
county level, which in turn got me my call up at 17." Taylor explained.
Both Taylor's brother and sister were also keen on their sport at any early age, her brother Alex, 22, played soccer or 'real' football as she explains, before becoming a Poker Dealer.
Her sister Becky, 26, played in Sarah's cricket team when they were short, being capable of picking up handy wickets.
"My younger brother, used to play (real) football for the county back at Sussex as a kid but he is now a Poker Dealer and plays the occasional football on a Sunday," Taylor said.
"My sister Becky used to be a dancer and did feature a couple of times for
my cricket team.
The Scorpions recruit acknowledged former England coach Mark Lane as a
strong mentor.
A sporting inspiration Taylor also looked up to Tennis star Steffi Graf.
"He (Lane) kept the game simple for me and made sure enjoyment was top of my
priorities, I have a lot to thank him for," she said.
"Steffi Graff - her attitude towards training and matches was inspiring growing up.
"Her presence on the court set her apart from the others.
Plus she married Andre Agassi...my favourite sporting couple."
Not just a talented cricketer, off the field, Taylor is currently studying to be an accountant but has not yet decided on her journey after cricket.
"I am actually a complete geek," Taylor said, whilst stressing she isn't as boring as this may suggest.
"I grew up wanting to be an archaeologist.
For the moment she is grateful being a professional cricketer and the opportunity to play throughout the world.
"You get to travel the world with your closest friends, playing the sport you love," she said.
"I get to see amazing places and meet wonderful people that become friends for life, and play at some of the best sporting grounds around the world.
Last week her Scorpions team notched up wins against ACT in all three games and Taylor was instrumental in the second T20 match scoring 81* off 52 deliveries.
She is enjoying her time at the Scorpions so much that she has already suggested returning to Adelaide as soon as next season.
"No doubt I would return, if given the opportunity I would grab it no questions asked," Taylor continues.
"It would be amazing to see how the team progresses and how players grow individually as cricketers and people.
"The girls are such a good bunch, they make me laugh and welcomed me with
open arms.
"They say team spirit is a great thing to have and this team has it in abundance.
"The excitement of a women's Big Bash is also something I would love to say I played a part in.
Taylor has already ventured in and around Adelaide and could not be happier right now, saying she was lucky enough to go up into the Adelaide Hills.
"The Hills are just gorgeous, including the views," she said.
"Plus I am staying in the city and as a city girl at heart it doesn't get much better."
With Taylor loves her time in Australia she was quick to respond when quizzed about any chance we'd see her play in the Australian colours.
"That would be a firm NO," Taylor laughs off and continued.
"I'm British and extremely proud of it."

K Mac in Under 18s

Congrats to Kayla McGrath who was chosen in the SA Under 18s team which plays in Sydney in mid-January.

No Christmas joy for As

The A grade made 5/86 off 20 overs.  The Eagles passed us in the 11^th over.

We welcomed Kayla McGrath back after her volleyball commitments of recent weeks with  11 as an opener.  She and Brandi put on 22 in seven overs to give us a solid base.

Donna continued her good batting form top scoring with 24 and Kylie did some good work for 21.

We got off to a bad start with the ball with 12 off the first over. They scored the runs with nine overs to spare.

The B grade grand final saw Adelaide Uni beat Prospect by five runs.

Prospect finished top at the end of the minor round and we were competitive against them in Round one.

Good luck to Trish Pinder, Donna Clark and Kempey who have been nominated for the Southern area Volunteer of the Year to be announced New Year’s Eve at The Adelaide Oval.

                                                             Trish winning last year's award.

Merry Christmas to all and all the best for the New Year.

We resume on January 11 with B grade in the 40 over competition and the As with a T 20.

A couple more from the test match

Cara's group

Alicia's group

Donna and Kempey

Donna...

Kaitlyn and Mitch Johnson

Our girls from Reynella East

Anna with you know who!

Thursday at the Test Match

Kempey on right in picture

Kaitlyn  with Mike Kaspa

and Peter Siddle

and Ryan Harris

                                                               and hits a six!!

On Thursday we had the opportunity to be part of the lunchtime entertainment on the Adelaide Oval.  We had 15 representatives on the ground from our Reynella Girls Only Supa Six Smash and Kanga group.

Sarah and Anna at The Cricket Lovers

Our two Internationals - Marg Jude (First Test v England July 1963, played in the first Women's World Cup 1973 for the International X1 against England and Australia.)

and Sarah Taylor 

7 Tests debut August 2006, 90 ODIs - debut August 2006, 67 International T20s debut September 2006, ICC T20 Player of the Year 2012, 2013 ICC ODI Player of the Year 2014)

                                                        Roy thanks Anna Kerrison

                                A grade captain Jess O'Reilly, Anna Kerrison and Sarah Taylor.

Roy thanking Sarah

FIRST WINS!!! INTERNATIONAL FIFTIES!!!

Both teams had their first wins for the season.  We chased in the As to win in the 19^th over and chased in the Bs to win the 17^th.

Both our international reps were at their best with Sarah finishing with 59* and Anna 52*.

The As won their first game with a perfectly timed run chase.

Northern chose to bat starting at a breakneck pace with 41 off the first four overs.  The forced move of Kylie Rattray to the bowling crease (to finish Donna Clark’s second over) broke the opening partnership and started to stem the runs. 

A key spell from Tahlia McGrath 2/13 (including two maidens) and Alicia Holt 1/16 off four put further pressure on them to have them 6/70 in the 12^th. A 52 run partnership between Chloe Scheer and Steph Morrison took them to 113 in the 18^th.  But Chloe Lyons and Rachel Greenshields cleaned up the tail to have them dismissed for 117 inside the 20 overs.

Tahlia McGrath (17 off 18) and Sarah Taylor gave us a good start with 26 off the first four overs. After the run out of Tahlia, Sarah (59 off 42 balls) and Jess O’Reilly (30 off 54) saw us home with seven balls to spare.

The highlights of Sarah’s inning included three RAMP SHOTS!!!!

The Bs scored their first win in convincing style.

We fielded first and did not get our first wicket until the 12^th over.  Bridee Tonkin (with the wind) took three wickets seven balls (all bowled) to start the Port collapse.  Wickets to Kate and Anna also slowed the Port run rate.  (after 12 overs Port were 57 and finished with 92.)
Ella took her first catch as keeper.

Our run chase started well with Rachel Dickinson (5) and Anna Kerrison scoring 16 off the first four overs.  Anna and captain Kate finished the job with an unbroken stand of 85. 

The partnership was a contrast of styles.  Anna using her off side shots to pierce the field and take cheeky singles, while Kate batted with her typical belligerence and brute force!!! Both players ran very well between the wickets to convert ones into twos, twos into threes and force overthrows.

Anna opened her innings with two pull shots for four in the second over and scored many runs in the arc between cover and third-man.

We passed their score in the 16^th over and Anna scored her 50 an over later.
####

Welcome back to Nikki Moyle who played her first B grade game for two seasons - coming back from injuries.

No games this week…. But we will have some representation at the Test match on Thursday with some of our coaches on the ground at lunchtime on Thursday.

One game to go for the As before Christmas.  The Bs will resume in January with the 40 over competition.

Anna and Sarah will be speaking at the Cricket Lovers event on Wednesday evening.

our new A grade uniforms