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.

Gordon Women's 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 2025-26 Women's First Grade Player of the Year was Frankie Nicklin of Sydney University Cricket Club.

Kingsgrove Sports Women's Merit XII First Grade Team of the Year 2025-26:

Captain

Frankie Nicklin (Sydney University, captain)

Kate Pelle (Parramatta)

Kate McTaggart (Northern District)

Eva Ragg (Sydney)

Zoya Thakur (Sydney University)

Ami Campbell (Gordon)

Ella Tilburg (Penrith)

Grace Pooley (Parramatta)

Elizebath Barkat (Campbelltown Camden)

Aditi Shidore (Campbelltown Camden)

Olivia Callaghan (Gordon)

Kira Churchland (Sydney)

2025-26 Women’s Premier Cricket Awards:

Premierships:

Club Championship: Gordon

Women’s Kingsgrove Sports T20 Cup: Campbelltown Camden

First Grade: Gordon

Second Grade: Parramatta

Third Grade: Sydney

Brewer Shield: Blacktown

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Women’s Individual Awards:

First Grade Player of the Year: Frankie Nicklin, Sydney University

Second Grade Player of the Year: Diya Sambrane, Gordon

Third Grade Player of the Year: Kylie Hocknell, Sydney

Brewer Shield Player of the Year: Chantelle Ranjan, Sydney University

Women’s Coach of the Year: Alex Blackwell, Sydney University

Spirit of Cricket Award: Northern District

First Grade Captain of the Year: Eva Ragg, Sydney

Second Grade Captain of the Year: Rochelle Davis, Greater Hunter Coast

Third Grade Captain of the Year: Kylie Hocknell, Sydney

Brewer Shield Captain of the Year: Zara Hepplewhite, Northern District