McDonald's Women's NSW Premier Cricket

In January 1928 formal recognition of women's cricket in NSW came about with the establishment of the NSW Women's Cricket Association (NSWWCA).

Although cricket was played by women in Sydney prior to this under the City Girls Amateur Sports Association, January 1928 is recognised as the beginning of Women's Premier/Grade Cricket in Sydney. 

The NSWWCA was solely responsible for the management of Women's Cricket in NSW, (Regional and Sydney), until the end of the 1979/80 season. In 1980/81, with the continuous growth of women's cricket in Sydney, a separate association (known as the Sydney Women's Cricket Association - SWCA) was formed to organise and run the Sydney Women's Grade competition. 

The McDonald’s Women’s NSW Premier Cricket competition is a feeder for the NSW Women's squad, Sydney Thunder and Sydney Sixers, while players from this competition have also progressed to represent other States in the Women's National Cricket League.

Many younger Premier Cricket players also represent NSW Metropolitan and ACT/NSW Country at the various Underage Female National Championships.

First Grade, Second Grade and Under 18 Brewer Shield competitions are all played on a Sunday with Third Grade being played on Saturdays.

A T20 and 40-over competition is held for Third Grade. First Grade, Second Grade and Under 18 Brewer Shield all play Twenty20 and 50-over cricket.

McDonald's Women's Premier Cricket has been home to many Australian players over the years.  

Legends of the game like Christina Matthews, Belinda Clark, Lisa Keightley, Lisa Sthalekar, Alex Blackwell and Rene Farrell as well as current players Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy and Phoebe Litchfield have all spent regular time in the NSW Women's Premier Cricket competition.

Sydney Cricket Club are the current women's McDonald's NSW Premier Cricket first grade champions.

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Women's First Grade Player of the Year

The Women's First Grade Player of the Year Award was first awarded at the end of the 1982/83 season to Belinda Haggett from the Kuring-gai Women's Cricket Club.

Players of the Year for other grades were introduced from the 1984/85 season.

The list of award winners includes NSW greats Belinda Clark, Bronwyn Calver, Michelle Goszko, Sarah Aley and current Australian allrounder Ashleigh Gardner, who won her first Player of the Year Award in 2020/21.

The Women's First Grade Player of the Year is decided by umpire votes from each match during the season on a 3-2-1 basis.

The 2023/24 Women's First Grade Player of the Year was Rhiannon Dick (St George-Sutherland WCC)

Kingsgrove Sports Women's Merit XII First Grade Team of the Year 2023/24:

Captain

Rhiannon Dick (St George-Sutherland WCC) | 617 runs

Batters

Lauren Kua (Manly Warringah DCC) | 578 runs

Claire Koski (Campbelltown Camden DCC) | 483 runs

Frankie Nicklin (Sydney University CC) | 459 runs

Elise Noble (Penrith CC) | 446 runs

Emily Sidgreaves (Gordon WDCC) | 405 runs

Wicketkeeper

Alexandra Tims (Sydney CC) | 25 dismissals

Bowlers

Kira Churchland (Sydney CC) | 26 wickets

Aimee Ravot (Penrith CC) | 25 wickets

Emma Hughes (Penrith CC) | 23 wickets

Sara Chun (Gordon WDCC) | 23 wickets

Jaclyn Vickery (St George-Sutherland WCC) | 23 wickets

^{(statistics include runs scored, wickets taken and wicketkeeping dismissals in preliminary One-Day & T20 matches excluding Finals)}

2023/24 Women’s Premier Cricket Awards:

Premierships:

Club Championship | Manly Warringah DCC

Ruth Preddy Trophy [First Grade] | Sydney CC

Second Grade | UTS North Sydney CC

Third Grade | Manly Warringah DCC

Brewer Shield | Greater Hunter Coast PCC

First Grade T20 Trophy | Sydney CC

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Women’s Individual Awards:

Booth-Saunders Spirit of Cricket Award | Penrith CC

Bob Simpson Award for Coach of the Year | Duncan Kerr (Manly Warringah DCC)

Second Grade Player of the Year | Elizabeth Cambridge (Manly Warringah DCC)

Third Grade Player of the Year | Stephanie Gillett (St George-Sutherland WCC)

Brewer Shield Player of the Year | Caoimhe Bray (Greater Hunter Coast PCC)

First Grade Captain of the Year | Saskia Horley (Manly Warringah DCC)

Second Grade Captain of the Year | Emma-Jayne Howe (Northern District CC)

Third Grade Captains of the Year | Stephanie Gillett (St George-Sutherland WCC) & Sallie Molyneux (Manly Warringah DCC)

Brewer Shield Captain of the Year | Aanya Singh (Northern District CC)