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.

St George-Sutherland 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 2024/25 Women's First Grade Player of the Year was Kira Churchland (Sydney CC).

Kingsgrove Sports Women's Merit XII First Grade Team of the Year 2024/25:

Captain

Kira Churchland (Sydney CC) | 559 runs & 24 wickets

Batters

Ella McCaughan (Manly Warringah DCC) | 615 runs

Claire Koski (Campbelltown Camden DCC) | 538 runs

Kelly Rowlings (Campbelltown Camden DCC) | 524 runs

Sterre Kalis (Gordon DCC) | 499 runs

Stella Wilde (Bankstown Sports) | 448 runs

Wicketkeeper

Lucy Western (St George-Sutherland WCC) | 29 dismissals

Bowlers

Chelsea McLerie (Manly Warringah DCC) | 27 wickets

Juliette Morton (St George-District WCC) | 24 wickts

Elizabeth Yates (Gordon DCC) | 22 wickets

Olivia Callaghan (Gordon DCC) | 22 wickets

Isabella Malgioglio (Parramatta DCC) | 22 wickets

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

2024/25 Women’s Premier Cricket Awards:

Premierships:

Club Championship | Sydney CC

Ruth Preddy Trophy [First Grade] | St George-Sutherland WCC

Second Grade | UTS North Sydney DCC

Third Grade | Parramatta DCC

Brewer Shield | Southern Swans CC

First Grade T20 Trophy | Campbelltown Camden DCC

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Women’s Individual Awards:

Booth-Saunders Spirit of Cricket Award | Manly Warringah DCC

Bob Simpson Award for Coach of the Year | Jake Wilson (St George-Sutherland WCC)

Second Grade Player of the Year | Bella Johnson (UTS North Sydney DCC)

Third Grade Player of the Year | Samantha Dillon (St George-Sutherland WCC)

Brewer Shield Player of the Year | Aditi Shidore (Campbelltown Camden DCC)

First Grade Captain of the Year | Kira Churchland (Sydney CC)

Second Grade Captain of the Year | Bella Johnson (UTS North Sydney DCC)

Third Grade Captain of the Year | Nicole Knox (Parramatta DCC)

Brewer Shield Captain of the Year | Aditi Shidore (Campbelltown Camden DCC)