By Hollie Harris
Sunshine Coast Council’s Elizabeth Daniels Sport Complex is hosting the Australian Women’s Cricket Team this week for their final week of preparation leading into the ICC Women’s World Cup in England.
Mayor Mark Jamieson said it was a pleasure to welcome the Australian Women’s Cricket Team – the Southern Stars – to the Sunshine Coast as they prepared for the upcoming World Cup.
“They couldn’t have chosen a better place to finalise their preparations,” Cr Jamieson said.
“I’m sure the team will enjoy our beautiful winter weather, great facilities and the warm hospitality of our Coast community who are very experienced in welcoming elite sporting teams.
“Thanks to the Southern Stars and the highly successful WBBL competition, women’s cricket is at the forefront of a boom in the popularity of women’s sport in this country. The profile of the game, and its players, has never been higher.
“For many years now, the Southern Stars have been one of our most successful national sporting squads – and their players are outstanding role models for young cricketers.
“I’m sure they will be well placed to contest the World Cup in England and add to the six World Cups they have already secured.”
Australian Women’s Cricket Captain Meg Lanning said the team was really excited to spend some valuable time on the Sunshine Coast as they put the final touches on their World Cup preparations.
“The facilities here are first class and the weather is even better, so we’ll be looking to get some match practice in and make the most of the time we have on the Sunshine Coast,” she said.
Cr Jamieson said cricket was a very important part of our sporting mix on the Sunshine Coast.
“Our council is focussed on providing developmental pathways for local and first-class cricket opportunities,” Cr Jamieson said.
“This year the Sunshine Coast will host the under-17 men’s national championships for the third straight year and expect to again have a number of state teams visit us for pre-season camps – as they have done for many years now.
“This is of course coming off the back of a highly successful Big Bash pre-season campaign held at Elizabeth Daniels Sports Complex in December where the Heat took on the Hurricanes in two practice matches.
“The council has recently invested in venue upgrades and we are investigating further upgrades to develop the Elizabeth Daniels Sports Complex into a higher level Cricket Australia-accredited facility.
“These facility upgrades represent a long-term investment in cricket on the Coast, including local clubs who use the venues throughout the cricket season.
“On behalf of the Sunshine Coast, I wish the Southern Stars the best of luck for the camp and in their defence of the World Cup.”
