A new era is dawning at Melton Centrals Cricket Club, with the club to field a women’s side for the first time this season.
A couple of conversations at the club after last season set the wheels in motion for the expansion.
Candace Hulett, who played at the club last season in one of the men’s sides, has been appointed the Centrals’ inaugural women’s coach.
She said there had been a lot of interest.
“I’d played premier cricket for 16 years and decided to take a year off and come and play with the men at Centrals,” she said.
“I had a lot of fun … a few of the other girls said we should start a team. A few of the junior girls asked if I would coach the team and it’s gone from there.”
Hulett said the club had 10 confirmed players and another couple interested.
“There’s a real mix of players,” Hulett said.
“The youngest is 12 and we go up to middle-age women. We’ve got some of the wives and girlfriends wanting to play.
“The competition we’re playing in, the CV Women’s Community Cricket, is for all ages and abilities.”
Hulett, who played for Victoria’s second XI side and represented the state at junior level, said the real community feel had made her want to play cricket at this level and at Centrals.
As well as playing at a high level, Hulett has coached the Western Spirit under-16 representative team for the past seven years and will use her experience to help guide the club’s younger female players.
Hulett said they were still looking for players of all ages and abilities to join the side.
The side will play at Blackwood Reserve in a mixture of T20 and one-day matches, with most games on Sundays.
“Anyone who wants to have a bit of fun can come down,” she said. “We’ve started training and will train every Saturday morning until the season starts.”
Details: 0418 438 228 or website@meltoncentrals.com.au
