Sarah Taylor, the England women’s wicket-keeper batsman, has broken into what was previously a jealously-guarded male preserve by becoming the first woman to play Australian first grade cricket.
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The current ICC Women’s worldwide One-Day Cricketer of the Year will play for Northern Districts against Port Adelaide in South Australia’s elite men’s competition starting on Saturday.
Only men have played in the league since it’s inception in 1897, and told Sportsworld’s Lee James how it felt to be a trailblazer. This match is one of the South Australia’s top men’s competition.
“For me personally, it was just to make me a better women’s player”.
“I’ve always wanted to push myself and check where I’m at in terms of my cricket”, she added. Mike Selvey, cricket correspondent of The Guardian has championed her as unique: the only women’s cricketer he has ever seen with all the attributes to play at first-class level.
On her most recent outing with the bat, Taylor made an impressive 101 in the Scorpions’ first match of the season against the Lend Lease Breakers last weekend.
When asked about sledging activity which is common in Australian cricket, Sarah replied, “If I get any sledging, it’s a bit of respect because they’re treating me like one of the other players”. So far, Sarah Taylor has played 8 Tests, 98 ODIs and 73 T20s for England.
Northern Districts cricket director Sean Watt said Taylor’s selection had been endorsed by state talent manager Tim Nielsen and ex-Redbacks coach Darren Berry, now part of the Jets’ coaching panel. “I am sure that Sarah will learn a great deal playing first grade cricket this winter, alongside featuring in the Women’s Big Bash League for Adelaide Strikers”. Earlier this year England women’s fast bowler Kate Cross became the first woman to play in the Central Lancashire League, one of the country’s most reputable and traditional leagues. She has also signed to play for the Adelaide Strikers in Australia’s inaugural women’s Big Bash Twenty20 League.
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“I’m really happy with my glove-work through the England summer as a whole, so hopefully I can take that form into the men’s game”.
