Photo Credit: Sydney Sixers
Prodigious teenage leg-spinner Jade Allen has signed with the Sydney Sixers for the next two WBBL seasons.
It continues a milestone few months for the 17-year-old student from the small NSW South Coast town of Cobargo where she lives above the family-owned pub and works in the kitchen.
In May, Allen signed her first domestic contract with the NSW Breakers, continuing her journey to the professional level.
“It’s been an awesome opportunity that has been given to me, so I’m super excited to join the girls for this season,” Allen said.
As a 16-year-old, Allen was last year selected in the Australian Women’s Under 19 squad to tour South Africa in April 2020 but for a world-changing pandemic.
From a very young age, she was identified as a special talent, as Cricket NSW Head of Female Cricket Leah Poulton can attest.
“I’ve coached Jade for many years now,” Poulton said.
“I was working at Cricket NSW when she was coming through the Pathway, when she was very young, and then when I was at Cricket Australia, she played for the Under 15 CA XI at the U18 National Championships which I was coaching, so I’ve seen a lot of Jade in action.
“Jade is a player we’re obviously really keen to get involved in the (Sixers squad) because as we know leg-spin bowling is a real weapon in T20 cricket. Anything where you can take the ball away from the right-hander is really effective.
“We feel like Jade has a lot of potential, it’ll be a great year for her just to be around the group and learn.
“She’s a genuine leg-spinner.
“She has a good variations, and just very skilful with the ball. We see her as someone who’s got a long-term future in the WBBL and WNCL.”
Allen has twice received the prestigious Basil Sellers Scholarship awarded to some of the most promising cricketers in the state.
Whilst she dares to dream of a WBBL debut in her rookie season, her priority is to learn as much as she can from some of the greats of the game.
“Just being involved and getting the opportunity to just train with those girls (like Ellyse Perry and Alyssa Healy) will I think be the most beneficial,” Allen said.
Allen is also completing her HSC this year, at Bega High School, adding to the balancing act which many young athletes face.
But if she was to receive her debut cap this season, there is little doubt the match would be compulsory viewing at the Cobargo Hotel.
“For sure, Mum and Dad will have it on the TV downstairs most likely,” Allen said with a smile.
Sydney Sixers WBBL Sqaud
Head Coach: Ben Sawyer
Contracted for WBBL|07: Ellyse Perry (C), Jade Allen, Erin Burns, Stella Campbell, Lauren Cheatle, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Emma Hughes, Angela Reakes, Hayley Silver-Holmes.
Sydney Sixers WBBL|07 Fixtures (All AEDT Start Times)
Thurs 14 Oct | Vs Melbourne Stars | 7:40pm | North Sydney Oval
Sun 17 Oct | Vs Sydney Thunder | 1:40pm | North Sydney Oval
Tues 19 Oct | Vs Melbourne Stars | 7:05pm | Blacktown ISP
Sat 23 Oct | Vs Sydney Thunder | 3:40pm | WACA
Sun 24 Oct | Vs Melbourne Renegades | 1:40pm | WACA
Sat 30 Oct | Vs Perth Scorchers | 5:15pm | Lilac Hill
Sun 31 Oct | Vs Melbourne Renegades | 1:30pm | Lilac Hill
Sat 6 Nov | Vs Hobart Hurricanes | 10:45am | Karen Rolton Oval
Sun 7 Nov | Vs Adelaide Strikers | 2:15pm | Centennial Park Oval
Wed 10 Nov | Vs Brisbane Heat | 7:05pm | Blacktown ISP
Sat 13 Nov | Vs Brisbane Heat | 7:05pm | Blundstone Arena
Sun 14 Nov | Vs Hobart Hurricanes | 1:40pm | Karen Rolton Oval
Sat 20 Nov | Vs Adelaide Strikers | 1:40pm | Great Barrier Reef Arena
Sun 21 Nov | Vs Perth Scorchers | 10:15am | Karen Rolton Oval
Click here to sync the fixtures to your e-cal.
Information regarding Memberships and Tickets will be announced soon.
