Broadbent joins Queensland Cricket

Former Australian Women's cricketer Joanne Broadbent has accepted a position with Queensland Cricket and will relocate from South Australia next month.

Broadbent will begin work as the Gold Coast Regional Cricket Manager on May 8 and be involved with the Konica Queensland Fire women's team and the Queensland Cricket elite youth coaching program.

A national representative for 11 years, she holds the record for the highest score by an Australian in a women's Test, scoring 200 against England on the 1998 Ashes tour.

She retired from international cricket after playing for the Southern Scorpions in the 2000-2001 Women's National League.

Broadbent is one of three new Regional Cricket Managers commencing work witth Queensland Cricket in the next few weeks. Queensland Country wicket-keeper Stephen Baker has accepted the Townsville post while Vic Williams has started in Gladstone.

Richard McInness moves from Gladstone to oversee the Wide Bay region following the resignation of Bob Dieckmann and David Bannister relocates from Townsville to Toowoomba.

Meanwhile the Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars Australian women's Youth squad contains five of Queensland's most promising young players.

Konica Queensland Fire pace bowlers Kelly Klibbe and Leteysha Randall, who made her debut in the WNCL Final against champions NSW, are joined by Konica Queensland Under-19 trio Kristen Pike, Jodie Purves and Belinda Matheson in the squad.

Pike, a right-arm pace bowler, was Queensland's leading wicket-taker at the national championships, while Purves, a wicket-keeper from Toowoomba, and Matheson, an allrounder from the Gold Coast, are both considered likely Fire squad selections next season.

The AIS-Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars squad will train at Allan Border Field from May 11-14 in preparation for their Ashes tour of England and Ireland in June. The team to tour England will be named on May 15.