MEN AND WOMEN COMBINE TO TAKE CRICKET FORWARD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY

THE SYDNEY UNIVERSITY CRICKET CLUB LAUNCHES THEIR WOMENS PROGRAM

Sydney Uni Cricket Club (SUCC) and Universities Women’s Cricket Club (UWCC) are thrilled to announce the merger of the two clubs, with the women’s teams now falling under the SUCC banner in time for the 2023/24 cricket season. 

The move gives UWCC teams a dedicated home and increased stability as part of one of Premier cricket’s longest established clubs, boasting 150 years of passion and tradition, while SUCC gains increased diversity, a dedicated and passionate women’s player group and a foothold in the fast-growing women’s cricket space.

This has come at the conclusion of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Sydney University Sport & Fitness (SUSF) and University of New South Wales Sport, an almost 20 year cooperation to run a women’s cricket program providing opportunities for female cricketers in the Premier Sydney competition. 

Though the women’s program within SUCC is new, it has strong connections to the original women’s club that existed at Sydney University. Formed in the 1930’s the original women’s club included Australia’s first captain Margaret Peden as well as a later national leader Mollie Dive, who were both students at the University when cricket for women was taking off in this country.

Former IWCC President and Honorary Fellow of the University, Ann Mitchell OAM, knew both these pioneers of the game, and says “I am delighted, as they would be, to see this latest development in the story of women in cricket at the university. It is an exciting moment and I congratulate the current administrators of SUCC and of UWCC on taking this significant step. I now look forward to the next chapter with great expectation.”

SUCC Chairman, Mark Faraday, said, “SUCC is thrilled to be welcoming the UWCC women’s teams under our banner. It is fitting that we, as a premier cricket club, should play a role in the development of the women’s game as we look to the next chapter in our history.” 

Former Australian women’s captain and UWCC founding member, Alex Blackwell has been appointed SUCC’s Head Coach of the women’s programme. Additionally, Australian batting prodigy, Phoebe Litchfield, has signed up to add strength to the premier women’s side. Litchfield joins her brother, Charles Litchfield, a regular member in the SUCC senior line-up, and will be a tremendous role model to players across the club.

“I’m really excited to be part of Sydney Uni CC. The male side of the club has such a rich history and I’m so honoured and pumped to be part of the start of the women’s program,” said Litchfield. “It’s also pretty cool to be in the same club as my brother, a little added bonus.”