Darcie Brown becomes youngest player to sign for Adelaide Strikers

Brown is one of the fastest female bowlers in South Australia, clocking speeds as high as 116 kmph, and has already represented the Australia Under 19 side, when she was just 15, during their trip earlier this year to New Zealand for series against a development squad.

"It’s a wonderful opportunity for Darcie to join our group – she’s just an exceptionally exciting young talent, and just for her to mix with the calibre of players we’ve got both from an overseas point of view and our locals, will be great for her development," Luke Williams, the Strikers head coach, told reporters.

If Brown gets a game this season, she will also be the youngest player to play in the WBBL. Williams said her pace would go a long way in differentiating her from her peers. "Raw pace is obviously Darcie’s main attribute, and she is certainly learning more and more around the tactics of the game and using different variations,” Williams said.

"Her key strength is to bowl fast, so we would be encouraging her whenever she gets the opportunity to play to do just that. That’s going to be her point of difference in the competition.”

The Strikers finished sixth last season, having won only five of their 14 games. However, hopes are high for the upcoming campaign, with the Strikers set to take on Melbourne Renegades in their opener on 19 October.

"It’s going to be a great opportunity to get the group together for some match practice, and have a bit more time together leading into the competition than previous years," said Williams.

"Unfortunately, we will be missing Megan [Schutt] who will be finishing up Australian duties, and Stafanie [Taylor], who will still be with West Indies cricket. But they will join us back in Adelaide. It will be a great opportunity for the playing group and support staff to gather and start mapping out the season ahead."