Great Southern cricketers part of newly former Southern Scorpions to play in first-ever women’s country week

Four Great Southern cricketers will play for the Southern Scorpions at the first-ever women’s country week to be held in Geraldton, starting on Saturday. The Southern Scorpions are a team is formed with players from the Goldfields region between Kalgoorlie and Esperance along with the Great Southern. Denmark’s Julianne Langley will be the player-coach and is joined in the team by Albany duo Bonnie Crook and Lahni Davis along with Mt Barker’s Holly Pearce. Albany and Districts Cricket Association, Eastern Goldfields Cricket Association and Esperance Cricket Association do not have their own women’s competitions and the Southern Scorpions was formed by WACA Great Southern cricket manager Tim Edmunds and Goldfields cricket manager Chris Secker. Seven teams will compete in the Twenty20 competition. Crook, a former WA Country XI cricketer, said she was looking forward to the tournament. “It’s the first women’s country week that we have ever had, so it’s a really exciting opportunity for all the girls down here and women to play cricket,” the 21-year-old said. “It’s something i have never had growing up, so it means a lot to me and is a really special time of the year to be going away and playing cricket.” Davis, who was recently involved in the WACA regional girls development camp, said she was looking forward to taking on players from different areas. “It means quite a bit to go away to country week because we get to have an opportunity to play against girls rather than just against the boys and we get to see people from all across the State playing cricket,” the 15-year-old said. “It will be really good playing with the girls and I think I will really enjoy the experience.” Pearce has been playing for Melville women’s B-grade in the WA Premier Cricket competition this season. “I think it’s an amazing opportunity for us girls and now girls are being able to play more sport and getting more chances to go further with their cricket as what the boys have had,” the 17-year-old said. “I’m looking forward to just getting to know different people and how each area does the cricket differently, like how there’s different stages with it.” Edmunds said this was a great opportunity for local players. “The first ever women’s country week is a fantastic opportunity for our female players not only in the Great Southern region but for players across regional WA,” he said. “A lot of work has been done to get this new competition off the ground and I’m sure it will be a great success to continue into the future. “Our players have been very keen to play from the start and hopefully this leads the way for more players and our own country week team from Albany in the coming years.” “Having someone of Julianne’s experience to lead a young group is brilliant for their development and their eagerness has no doubt had a positive impact on her as well.” Langley is a former Western Fury seam bowler who played in the 90s and is coming out of retirement to lead a youthful team at the competition. Fellow Albany player Hannah Felton was picked to play but has had to withdraw.