Unstoppable Villani leads WNCL All*Star Team, wins second player-voted award for the season.
26 March, 2021
Elyse Villani’s outstanding form has seen her win a second player-voted award for the season, named captain of the Australian Cricketers’ Association’s WNCL All*Star Team.
Only last month, Villani was selected by her peers as the Domestic Player of the Season at the Australian Cricket Awards.
Villani’s numbers in 2021 have been remarkable. . The opener has scored three centuries, two half centuries and averages 98.83. She reached 135*, her highest-score of the season, only five days after winning Domestic Player of the Year.
Speaking at last month’s Australian Cricket Awards, Villani said she had incredible respect for her peers and spoke of the value players put on peer-voted awards.
Clean-hitting Victorian top-order bat, Elyse Villani, has been voted by her peers as this year’s Female Domestic Player of the Year. A highly respected foe, and much-loved teammate, Villani made 602 runs across 19 innings in the KFC WBBL and WNCL at an average of 35.41, including four half-centuries, including a 99, all at a strike-rate of 97.25.
“Player-voted awards are really special because it highlights the respect, we have for each other and I know that’s something the girls really value,” Villani said.
“I think over the last 12-months, I’ve learned to let go a lot. I’ve stopped comparing myself to other players around me and I feel a lot more comfortable in my skin.
“To be honest, I’ve gone back to basics. I’ve really enjoyed playing the game and I’m really enjoying playing with those around me. I’ve been really fortunate to be surrounded by some amazing people and I’m having a lot of fun.”
Australian spinners Molly Strano and Georgia Wareham make the side after finishing the season first and second on the wicket-takers list. Strano’s form earned her a reprise into the Australian set-up after taking a competition-high 14 wickets at an average of 14.42. Last year, the 28-year-old became the first player to reach a century of wickets in the WBBL. The off-spinner is closely followed by leggie, Georgia Wareham who finished the season with 13 scalps.
Seamer Kim Garth was named Ireland’s Player of the Decade only last month. After joining the Vics last year, Garth has headlined her teams fast-bowling brigade with 10-wickets for the competition.
Georgia Redmayne finished the regular season averaging just shy of 100, scoring 379 runs, including one century..
Australian vice-captain Rachael Haynes opens alongside Villani in the All*Star Team. The veteran blasted two centuries for New South Wales at an average of 82.60. Haynes is followed by ACT run-machine Katie Mack, who finished second to Villani on the run-tally with 418.
Tasmanian all-rounders Heather Graham and Nicola Carey slot into the middle order. The pair both scored centuries and finished the season with 11 wickets each. After just missing out on a berth in WNCL final, South Australians Bridget Patterson and Tahlia McGrath bolster the team. Patterson top scored for her state with two centuries while McGrath claimed 10 wickets in her five games.
2021 WNCL All*Star Team
Elyse Villani VIC © | 593 runs | 98.83 ave |100s 3 | 50s 2
Rachael Haynes NSW | 413 runs | 82.6 ave | 100s 2 | 50s 2
Katie Mack ACT | 418 runs | 59.71 ave | 100s 1 | 50s 3
Georgia Redmayne QLD (WK) | 397 runs | 99.25 ave | 9 catches | 100s 1 | 50s 2
Bridgett Patterson SA | 371 runs | 61.83 ave | 100s 2 |50s 1
Heather Graham TAS | 284 runs | 40.57 ave | 11 wkts | 28.45 ave | 5wkts 1 | 100s 1 | 50s 1
Nicola Carey TAS | 285 runs | 47.5 ave | 10 wkts | 22.91 ave | 100s 1 | 50s
Tahlia McGrath SA | 10 wkts | 18.3 ave | 139 runs | 27.8 ave | 4wkts 1
Kim Garth VIC | 10 wkts | 25.3 ave | 103 runs | 25.75 ave
Georgia Wareham VIC | 13 wkts | 19.15 ave | 4wkts 1
Molly Strano VIC | 14 wkts | 14.43 ave | 4wkts 1
12th Beth Mooney QLD | 297 runs | 74.25 ave | 100s 1
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