There are two new additions to South Australia’s Women’s squad ahead of the 2024/25 WNCL season.

Local fast-bowler Emmerson Filsell has earned her first State Contract after impressing in both SACA Premier Cricket and at underage National Championships, while South Australia will have an international recruit for the upcoming season, with Englishwoman Hollie Armitage signing as an overseas player.

Having gone through SACA’s pathway programs, Filsell was named in the 2023/24 Premier Cricket Team of the Year after taking 20 wickets for Kensington.

She has already represented South Australia, at the Under 19 National Championships in December last year, taking six wickets.

An all-rounder who bowls leg-break, Armitage brings international experience to SA with her, having made her debut for England in a T20I in March this year.

Captain of the Northern Diamonds in England, this isn’t the first time that Armitage will play in Australia, having previously represented Tasmania and the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash.

The majority of the South Australian squad has remained the same, with Cricket Australia contracted players Darcie Brown, Tahlia McGrath and Megan Schutt staying on the list.

Josie Dooley continues to make progress in her recovery in her hometown of Brisbane and SACA are continuing to support Josie and her family through this process. 

Anesu Mushangwe departed South Australia at the end of the 2023/24 season to take up a new opportunity with the ACT Meteors, while it was announced in March that 2015 WNCL Champion Sam Betts didn’t get her contract renewed.

Everyone at South Australia wishes both Anesu and Sam all the best in their next chapters.

Recently appointed Head Coach Michael Delaney is excited about the squad he has to work with during his first season in charge.

“Emmerson and Hollie are both super additions to our squad and we are looking forward to welcoming them,” Delaney said.

“It’s great to promote from within our pathway programs and we are really excited to give Emmerson her first State contract and to see what she can do on this stage.

“Hollie is a true all-rounder who will bring great skills as both a player and a person to our group, with her batting, bowling and leadership all qualities that will complement our squad.

“We are really pleased to have kept our core group together for the 2024/25 season, with the additions of Emmerson and Hollie suiting the squad well and we can’t wait to get stuck into pre-season.”

The South Australian squad begun pre-season training this week.

Full 2024/25 South Australia Women squad: 

Hollie Armitage, Jemma Barsby, Darcie Brown (CA Contracted), Emma de Broughe, Josie Dooley, Emmerson Filsell, Paris Hall, Eleanor Larosa, Tahlia McGrath (CA Contracted), Courtney Neale, Annie O’Neil, Bridget Patterson, Maddie Penna, Kate Peterson, Megan Schutt (CA Contracted), Courtney Webb, Amanda-Jade Wellington, Ella Wilson