16-year-old Darcie Brown signs three-year deal with Adelaide Strikers

Darcie Brown, the young fast bowler, has signed a three-year deal with Adelaide Strikers and completes their squad for the fifth edition of the Women’s Big Bash League beginning on October 18. At only 16, Brown is the youngest ever player, male or female, to sign a contract with the Adelaide club.



“It’s a wonderful opportunity for Darcie to join our group – she’s just an exceptionally exciting young talent and just for her to mix with the calibre of players we’ve got both from an overseas point of view and our locals, will be great for her development,” Luke Williams, Strikers’ head coach said on Monday (October 7).



Brown, a year 11 student, is currently studying at Henley High— a school that offers highly regarded sports programs. She is one of the fastest bowlers going around in South Australia having already clocked speeds of 116 kmph.



Earlier this year, at only 15, Brown was selected for the Australia Under-19 squad that toured New Zealand. Most recently, she earned her maiden call-up to the South Australia state squad for the Women's National Cricket League.



 

Women's @CricketAus keep finding the aces. Darcie Brown only 16 joins the @StrikersWBBL . Clocked 116kmh already, still growing, has potential to be the quickest Woman's bowler seen. Love an outlier, can she clock speeds 130kmh+ by the age of 21? Space to watch #cricket #AUSvSL

— Brad Hogg (@Brad_Hogg) October 7, 2019

 



“Raw pace is obviously Darcie’s main attribute and she is certainly learning more and more around the tactics of the game and using different variations,” Williams said.



“Her key strength is to bowl fast so we would be encouraging her whenever she gets the opportunity to play to do just that. That’s going to be her point of difference in the competition.”



Strikers will travel to Melbourne on Wednesday (October 9) for a training camp during which they will play two practice matches against the Bismah Maroof-led ICC Women’s Global Development squad.



 

Impressive stuff from first-year Scorp Darcie Brown! 😮 #WNCL pic.twitter.com/LdfHPu2JqY

— Statewide Super SA Scorpions (@ScorpionsSA) July 1, 2019

 



“I think it’s going to be a great opportunity to get the group together for some match practice and have a bit more time together leading into the competition than previous years,” continued Williams.



“Unfortunately, we will be missing Megan (Schutt) who will be finishing up Australian duties and Stafanie (Taylor) who will still be with West Indies cricket, but they will join us back in Adelaide. It will be a great opportunity for the playing group and support staff to gather and start mapping out the season ahead.”



Strikers begin their first ever standalone WBBL campaign against Melbourne Renegades at Karen Rolton Oval on October 19 after which they will face the same opposition on October 20.



 



Squad: Darcie Brown, Tegan McPharlin, Alex Price, Annie O’Neil, Sarah Coyte, Katie Mack, Sophie Devine (OS), Suzie Bates (OS), Bridget Patterson, Ellie Falconer, Megan Schutt, Tahlia McGrath, Stafanie Taylor (OS), Lauren Winfield (OS), Amanda-Jade Wellington, Tabatha Saville.