Shelley Nitschke was 28 when she broke into Australia's team in 2005. A short, dark blonde spinner who oozes energy, she was the perfect candidate to inspire Australia's victorious World Cup campaign; becoming the leading wicket-taker in that series. No slouch batting-wise, she hammered 175 runs in her first two Tests, the Ashes series in England. The home side may have won the Urn, but this didn't do much to dampen Nitschke's spirits - she went on to help Australia take the one-day series and win the Twenty20 against their old foe. They went on to defeat India 3-0 at home. A remarkable debut year earned her the Best New Talent title at the Commonwealth Bank Awards, which was nothing less than she deserved. Nowadays she opens the batting and that part of her game is helping her to flourish into a doughty allrounder. Club-wise she plays for Sturt in the SACA Grade competition alongside fellow international Kris Britt.
Jenny Roesler April 2008