Broadbent strengthens fire

Former Australian player Joanne Broadbent is set to make a comeback for the Konica Queensland Fire Women's Cricket team this season.

The left-hander, the first woman to score a double century in Test cricket during the 1998 Ashes tour, has accepted an invitation to train with the Fire squad during the off-season.

Originally from South Australia, Broadbent retired from cricket after the 2000-2001 Women's National League season and moved to Queensland last year to commence work as a Regional Cricket Manager for Queensland Cricket.

The 36-year-old did not play last season, electing to coach the Konica Queensland Under-19 and Under-17 teams at national championship level.

Her coaching stints included leading the Under-17 team to an historic title win in Perth, the first national championship win by a Queensland women's team.

Broadbent said today she was keen to make a playing comeback as long as she could continue to meet the demands of her role with Queensland Cricket.

"I'll train with the squad and see how everything looks closer to the season but it would be exciting to be involved on the playing side again," she said.

"Queensland have been developing a strong team in the past few seasons and it would be great to be a part of that," Broadbent said.

Broadbent played 43 one-day internationals for Australia, scoring 993 runs and taking 38 wickets, and 10 Tests, scoring 437 runs and taking 13 wickets.

Queensland achieved their best ever representation in Australian squads in April, with Julia Price, Tricia Brown, Melissa Bulow, Sally Cooper, Belinda Matheson and Cindy Kross named in the 2002-2003 Commonwealth Bank AIS Southern Stars squad and Kasee Marxsen, Kerryn Matthews, Kirsten Pike, Jodie Purves, Leteysha Randall and Megan White named in the AIS Shooting Stars Youth squad.

Also named in the Fire squad is ex-NSW player Lisa Floyd who has moved to Brisbane, and Australian Youth allrounder Kelly Klibbe who missed last season due to shoulder surgery.

The Fire will be coached this season by former University and Norths first grade pace bowler Richard McInnes who coached the Queensland Country team to the National championships in Warrnambool last season.

2002-2003 KONICA QUEENSLAND FIRE SQUAD: Joanne Broadbent, Tricia Brown, Reanna Browne, Bronwyn Buckley, Melissa Bulow, Sally Cooper, Lisa Floyd, Kelly Klibbe, Cindy Kross, Renee Lee, Kasee Marxsen, Belinda Matheson, Kerryn Matthews, Angela Murnane, Kirsten Pike, Julia Price, Jodie Purves, Leteysha Randall, Megan White.