# South Australia women's cricket team

The South Australia women's cricket team, formerly known as the South Australian Scorpions, is the women's representative cricket team for the Australian State of South Australia. They play their home games at Adelaide Oval and Karen Rolton Oval. They compete in the Women's National Cricket League (WNCL), the premier 50-over women's cricket tournament in Australia. They previously played in the now-defunct Australian Women's Twenty20 Cup and Australian Women's Cricket Championships.
The team is selected and supported by the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA).

## History
### 1935–1996: Australian Women's Cricket Championships

South Australia's first recorded match was against Victoria in the Australian Women's Cricket Championships on 10 to 11 January 1935, which they lost by an innings and 184 runs. They continued to regularly play in the Championships until its final season in 1995–96. They won the title five times, making them the third most successful team after Victoria and New South Wales.

### 1996–present: Women's National Cricket League and Twenty20 Cup

South Australia joined the newly-established WNCL in 1996–97. They have won one title, in 2015–16. Their best finish in the Australian Women's Twenty20 Cup was third in 2010–11.

## Grounds

South Australia have used a number of grounds over the years. Their first recorded home match against Western Australia in 1936 was played at Hindmarsh Oval, Adelaide. Historically they have played the vast majority of their home matches at various grounds in Adelaide.
After the inception of the WNCL in 1996, South Australia began playing regular matches at the Adelaide Oval and its adjacent ground, Adelaide Oval No 2, as well as various other grounds in Adelaide such as Park 25 and University Oval. Outside Adelaide, they played two matches in the 2006–07 WNCL at Centennial Park in Nuriootpa.
In the 2019–20 WNCL, South Australia played all of their home games at the Karen Rolton Oval, a newly upgraded ground located at Park 25 in Adelaide. They also played their three 2020–21 WNCL home games, their two 2021–22 WNCL home games and their six 2022–23 WNCL home games at the Karen Rolton Oval.

## Players
### Current squad

Based on squad announced for the 2024/25 season. Players in bold have international caps.
| No. | Name | Birth date | Batting style | Bowling style | Notes |
| Batters |||||||
| 2 | Emma de Broughe | (2000-09-06) 6 September 2000 (age 24) | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | |
| 5 | Annie O'Neil | (1999-02-18) 18 February 1999 (age 25) | Right-handed | Right-arm leg break | |
| 21 | Bridget Patterson | (1994-04-12) 12 April 1994 (age 30) | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| 17 | Courtney Webb | (1999-11-30) 30 November 1999 (age 24) | Right-handed | Right-arm leg break | |
| All-rounders |||||||
| 57 | Hollie Armitage | (1997-06-14) 14 June 1997 (age 27) | Right-handed | Right-arm leg break | |
| 15 | Jemma Barsby | (1995-10-04) 4 October 1995 (age 29) | Left-handed | Right-arm off break, Slow left-arm orthodox | Captain |
| 35 | Eleanor Larosa | (2005-11-26) 26 November 2005 (age 19) | Left-handed | Left-arm medium | |
| 9 | Tahlia McGrath | (1995-11-10) 10 November 1995 (age 29) | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| 11 | Madeline Penna | (2000-08-30) 30 August 2000 (age 24) | Right-handed | Right-arm leg break | |
| 33 | Kate Peterson | (2002-12-03) 3 December 2002 (age 21) | Right-handed | Right-arm fast-medium | |
| 10 | Amanda-Jade Wellington | (1997-05-29) 29 May 1997 (age 27) | Right-handed | Right-arm leg break | |
| Wicket-keepers |||||||
| 13 | Josie Dooley | (2000-01-21) 21 January 2000 (age 24) | Right-handed | — | |
| 23 | Paris Hall | (2003-11-03) 3 November 2003 (age 21) | Left-handed | — | |
| 77 | Ellie Johnston | (2003-01-29) 29 January 2003 (age 21) | Right-handed | Right-arm leg break | |
| Bowlers |||||||
| 20 | Darcie Brown | (2003-03-07) 7 March 2003 (age 21) | Right-handed | Right-arm medium-fast | |
| 13 | Maggie Clark | (2007-03-15) 15 March 2007 (age 17) | Left-handed | Right-arm fast-medium | |
| 24 | Emmerson Filsell | (2005-01-15) 15 January 2005 (age 19) | Right-handed | Right-arm medium-fast | |
| 86 | Courtney Neale | (1998-07-04) 4 July 1998 (age 26) | Right-handed | Right-arm medium-fast | |
| 27 | Megan Schutt | (1993-01-15) 15 January 1993 (age 31) | Right-handed | Right-arm medium-fast | |
| 8 | Ella Wilson | (2003-11-17) 17 November 2003 (age 21) | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | |

### Notable players

Players who have played for South Australia and played internationally are listed below, in order of first international appearance (given in brackets):
* Dot Laughton (1949)
* Ruth Dow (1957)
* Barbara Orchard (1957)
* Faith Thomas (1958)
* Margaret Jude (1963)
* Jill Need (1968)
* Wendy Blunsden (1972)
* Betty McDonald (1973)
* Janette Tredrea (1976)
* Jan Lumsden (1976)
* Kerry Mortimer (1976)
* Jill Kennare (1979)
* Jen Jacobs (1979)
* Lyn Fullston (1982)
* Lynley Hamilton (1982)
* Rhonda Kendall (1982)
* Annette Fellows (1984)
* Wendy Piltz (1984)
* Lee-Anne Hunter (1985)
* Andrea McCauley (1990)
* Joanne Broadbent (1990)
* Tunde Juhasz (1991)
* Isabelle Tsakiris (1992)
* Caroline Ward (1994)
* Olivia Magno (1995)
* Karen Rolton (1995)
* Charlotte Edwards (1996)
* Beth Morgan (1999)
* Leanne Davis (2000)
* Caroline Atkins (2001)
* Kate Oakenfold (2001)
* Kris Britt (2003)
* Jenny Gunn (2004)
* Shelley Nitschke (2004)
* Suzie Bates (2006)
* Sarah Taylor (2006)
* Sophie Devine (2006)
* Emma Sampson (2007)
* Lucy Doolan (2008)
* Lauren Ebsary (2008)
* Sarah Coyte (2010)
* Megan Schutt (2012)
* Tahlia McGrath (2016)
* Amanda-Jade Wellington (2016)
* Ashleigh Gardner (2017)
* Alicia Dean (2019)
* Darcie Brown (2021)

## Coaching staff

* Head coach: Mick Delaney
* Assistant coach: Jude Coleman

## Honours

* Australian Women's Cricket Championships:
** Winners (5): 1951–52, 1979–80, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1994–95
* Women's National Cricket League:
** Winners (1): 2015–16
* Australian Women's Twenty20 Cup:
** Winners (0):
** Best finish: 3rd (2010–11)

## Greatest ever team

In 2024 SACA members voted for and selected a greatest ever South Australian Women's team consisting of 12 players.
* Women's All Time Best Team
* Lauren Ebsary
* Jill Kennare
* Karen Rolton
* Shelley Nitschke
* Ruth Dow
* Joanne Broadbent
* Tegan McPharlin
* Lyn Fullston
* Megan Schutt
* Betty McDonald
* Faith Coulthard
* Margaret Jude