Women set to make history - twice
Pink balls will be used for the first time on Thursday, as trialled by two women's state teams, will on Friday another two sides will also make history
Cricinfo staff
09-Jan-2008
A trio of teenage pace bowlers will enjoy a taste of history on Thursday when they use a pink ball under match conditions for the first time. Queensland Fire's Delissa Kimmince, Taija Davis and Jo Verrall will take part in the ground-breaking Twenty20 match between Queensland and the Western Fury at the Gabba as the women trial the pink balls.
The following day, South Australia Scorpions will host Victoria in a WNCL match that will be under lights - the first women's match to be held as a day-nighter. Those matches are crucial, with South Australia needing two wins in two to guarantee a place in the final which will be hosted by New South Wales later this month.
Over in Queensland, Davis, 16, will make her state debut while 18-year-olds Kimmince and Verrall will shoulder additional responsibility with Kirsten Pike being rested ahead of Friday and Saturday's WNCL encounters. The Twenty20 game is also the first time the Fire have played at the Gabba and will be the curtain-raiser to tomorrow's KFC Twenty20 game between Queensland and Tasmania.
Additionally, the Fire players will wear pink caps and pink wrist bands with Queensland Cricket and the National Breast Cancer Foundation combining for the match to raise awareness and funds for research towards finding a cure for breast cancer.
Queensland selectors have left out spinner Dawn Holden and included off-spinner Kirby Short for her first match this year, as well as adding Rikki-Lee Rimmington the squad.
Queensland Twenty20 squad Melissa Bulow (capt), Jude Coleman, Lyndall Daley, Taija Davis, Danielle Hollis, Delissa Kimmince, Kasee Marxsen, Jodie Purves, Casey Reibelt, Rikki-Lee Rimmington, Kirby Short, Jo Verrall.
Queensland WNCL squad Melissa Bulow (capt), Jude Coleman, Lyndall Daley, Danielle Hollis, Delissa Kimmince, Cindy Kross, Kasee Marxsen, Kirsten Pike, Jodie Purves, Rikki-Lee Rimmington, Kirby Short, Jo Verrall, Megan White.
Western Fury squad for both Avril Fahey (capt), Renee Chappell, Emma Biss,,Nicole Bolton, Lauren Ebsary, Angele Gray, Peta Merrilees, Lauren Stammers, Holly Hyder, Charlotte Horton, Jenny Wallace, Amanda Williams, Jaimi Wilson.