Cricket, being a game of passion, skill, and unity, has seen tremendous growth and recognition in recent years, as more and more women showcased their skills on the global stage. The objective of both men and women in cricket remains the same, yet women’s cricket has its distinct history, and formats. This article gives a spotlight on the top 10 women spin bowlers in the cricket team of Australia. These top 10 women have mastered the art of spin bowling, and in doing so, they have also captured the hearts of millions of cricket fans. Get to know these amazing women whose skills amaze everyone!
1. Alana King
Alana Maria King has the pride of being an all-rounder, right-arm leg spin bowler, and right-handed batter. Her journey began with an interest in tennis at the age of five. Despite her interest in tennis, she joined her school softball team and participated in baseball clubs. Inspired by her brother, Mark King, his love for cricket and her growing interest in sports, she switched to cricket. Her International debut Test, ODI, and T20 matches took place in 2022. The best inning of Alana King was against Barbados Women in the Commonwealth Games. The most untold fact about Alana King is that she is an Anglo-Indian whose family lived in Chennai, India.
2. Ashleigh Gardner
Ashleigh Katherine Gardner currently plays for several teams like the National Women’s Team, New South Wales, in the Women's National Cricket League (WNCL), the Sydney Sixers in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL), and the Gujarat Giants in the Women's Premier League (WPL). She is marching forward in cricket as an all-rounder, a right-handed batter, and a right-arm off-spinner. She has topped at Cricket Australia's under-18 Championships and created history by receiving the most prestigious Lord Taverners Indigenous Player of the Year award.
3. Grace Harris
Grace Margaret Harris is an Australian cricketer known for playing for the Queensland Fire and Brisbane Heat teams. She bats right-handed and bowls right-arm off-break. She debuted internationally in August 2015 and gained attention with an impressive performance in the WBBL. Harris scored two centuries in two days for Western Suburbs in December 2020 and selected for Australia's team in the 2022 Women's Cricket World Cup in New Zealand. She made her debut against India in 2016 at Canberra.
4. Jessa Jonassen
Jonassen kick-started her cricket career with Queensland Fire in 2008-09. She debuted in the Women's National Cricket League against New South Wales Breakers when she was 16 years old, scoring 12 not out and taking 0/21 in a loss. Over the years, she has played for Brisbane Heat and Lancashire Thunder before joining Delhi Capitals in 2023. She has played a total of 56 WODI matches. Jonassen received individual honors, including Women's National Cricket League Player of the Year in 2014-15, Queensland Fire Player of the Year in 2010-11 and 2014-15, and Brisbane Heat Most Valuable Player in 2019-20.
5. Georgia Wareham
Georgia Wareham, became a T20 player for Australia. She established herself as the top female legspinner of the team in 2018, shining in the T20 World Cup final against England. Two years later, in another T20 World Cup, she has played a significant role in the match against New Zealand, helping Australia reach the semi-finals. She has been a part of and represented various teams, including Australia Women, Gujarat Giants Women, and Melbourne Renegades Women. In the 2023 Women's Premier League, Gujarat Giants bought her for 75 Lakhs. Wareham's talent and performances make her a valuable player in cricket.
6. Kristen Beams
Beams began her cricket career with Victoria in the Women's National Cricket League (WNCL). She excelled in the 2013-14 season, becoming the leading wicket-taker with 14 wickets. In 2014, she made her debut for the Australian national team. She had performed remarkably in a series against the West Indies, taking three wickets in just her third T20. She was part of Australia's team for the 2015 Women's Ashes. She continued to play well, leading the ODI wicket-takers in 2016. However, her contract was not renewed in 2018, and she retired from cricket in December 2019.
7. Lisa Sthalekar
Lisa Sthalekar, a flamboyant all-rounder, was introduced to cricket by her father. She played with boys at first but later discovered women's cricket while watching a Test match between Australia and England. She joined the Gordon club and played with both boys’ and women’s teams. She attended schools in Sydney and later completed a Bachelor of Arts at Sydney University. Sthalekar is known for her hard-hitting batting and off-spin bowling. She has achieved significant success, including winning the Belinda Clark Award in 2007 and 2008. She played a significant role in guiding New South Wales Breakers to several titles and won various awards, including Women's International Cricketer of the Year in 2007.
8. Amanda-Jade Wellington
Amanda-Jade Wellington is an Australian cricketer known for her right-arm leg spin. She plays for the South Australian Scorpions in the Women's National Cricket League (WNCL) and the Adelaide Strikers in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL). Amanda started her career at a young age and quickly gained attention. She later represented Australia in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. Wellington has been a valuable player for her domestic teams and has also played for Southern Vipers, Otago, Southern Brave, and Northern Districts. Her impressive performances led to awards and contracts with Cricket Australia. She has represented Australia in major tournaments like the Women's Cricket World Cup and the Commonwealth Games.
9. Erin Osborne
Erin Alyse Osborne is a former Australian cricketer, now a coach and commentator. She played for Australia in 2 Test matches, 60 One Day Internationals (ODIs), and 59 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) between 2009 and 2016. An all-rounder, she bowled right-arm off-break and batted right-handed. Her international career faced challenges due to the presence of other talented spin-bowling all-rounders. She played a crucial role in domestic matches and received call-ups to various international tournaments, including the World Cup and World Twenty20. Currently, she coaches the ACT's female Meteors Development Squad and serves as Cricket ACT's Male Pathway Manager.
10. Sophie Molineux
Sophie Grace Molineux is an Australian spin-bowler from Bairnsdale, Victoria. She is a left-arm orthodox bowling all-rounder and has been on the national women's team since 2018. Molineux plays for Victoria in the Women's National Cricket League (WNCL) and captains the Melbourne Renegades in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL). She started her cricket journey early mentored by former Australian coach John Harmer. Molineux achieved many milestones in junior cricket, including taking a hat-trick and captaining Victoria in national championships. She made her international debut in 2018 and has been a valuable player for Australia.
