Young cricketers make Victorian female squads

FOUR Moorabool cricketers are ready to elevate their game to another level after winning spots in Cricket Victoria’s emerging female players squads for the 2025-26 season.

Sisters Shameka and Tanae Grero from Bacchus Marsh Cricket Club, and Sarah Burton and Clover McIlwaine from Ballan Cricket Club have stamped themselves among Victoria Country’s finest young cricket prospects by their inclusion in the state pathways program.

The program will enable the girls to access elite-level training alongside the best players in their age group in the state, and have the potential to be selected to play for Victoria at their respective national championships in December and January.

Tanae Grero and McIlwaine have joined the under-16 emerging players squad, while Shameka Grero and Burton won selection in the under-19 squad.

Ballan’s McIlwaine is over the moon to have secured her first representative opportunity at state level.

It comes on the back of an outstanding last two seasons, highlighted by successive grand final appearances in both the under-15s Country Cup and Marg Jennings Cup, in which she scored plenty of runs in her favoured opening batting position and won three trophies.

McIlwaine further underlined her potential by debuting in the Geelong Premier Women’s competition at thirds level.

Tanae Grero’s selection is her second in the under-16 squad following a stellar 2024-25 season, highlighted by her call-up as an injury replacement for the national championships.

She celebrated her promotion in style by getting a wicket in her first over. Tanae won both player of the final and tournament in the state under-15s Country Cup in which she finished as the leading wicket-taker and scored her first 50.

She also debuted in Premier Women’s thirds cricket, playing for Essendon Maribyrnong Cricket Club.

Working directly with Cricket Victoria’s high-performance coaching staff and experienced Premier Cricket coaches, under-16 squad members will spend two days a week developing their game technically, tactically, physically and mentally as they continue to learn about being part of a high-performance program.

Having already represented her state at under-16 level, Shameka Grero has progressed to the emerging under-19s squad.

She enjoyed a great 2024-25 season, being a consistent performer with both bat and ball in the Premier Women’s second grade team for Essendon Maribyrnong Cricket Club.

She also competed in the state under-18s competition last January.

“When I heard that I made the under-19 Victoria Country emerging players squad, I couldn’t believe it,” she said.

“I’m looking forward to experiencing the professional training and highly-skilled coaches, knowing that all the time and effort has paid off for a reason.

“Being bottom-age, I think it will be a great experience, discovering more strengths I didn’t know I had and improving my skills.”

A breakout 2024-25 season has earned Burton selection in the under-19 squad.

Despite being one of the youngest players in the squad, her elevation comes as no surprise after she finished as the leading wicket taker at the 2024-25 Under-16 National Championships and was named in the team of the tournament.

Burton played consistently for Geelong’s first XI team in the State Premier Women’s Competition.

She too is extremely excited to elevate her game with this opportunity.

The under-19 program aims to prepare players for the rigours of professional cricket through continued exposure to high-level competition such as Victorian Premier Cricket and the national championships.

Despite their heavy load of Premier Cricket and representative commitments, all four girls played local cricket this year for their respective clubs Bacchus Marsh and Ballan. More sport from page 25.