The move follows successful weekly girls cricket training sessions last year.

Planning is in full swing for a Friday afternoon competition involving four teams at under-13 and under-15 level and be geared towards all levels of experience and ability.

The format will be nine-a-side Twenty20 matches and played at participating club team grounds from 5pm to 7.15pm.

The competition will be co-ordinated by one of Maitland’s leading women’s cricketers and coaches Jaclyn Vickery.

Already Eastern Suburbs and Thornton Park cricket clubs have voiced interest in establishing teams with Rod Porter and Mark Warland respectively overseeing their club’s plans for the all-girls competition. 

Maitland District Junior Cricket Association president Glen Findley said the success of national one-day, Twenty20 and four-day competitions and particularly local stars such as Maisy Gibson had led to a huge interest in women’s cricket and it was important for regional communities such as Maitland to offer pathways for girls into the sport.

Findley said their were burgeoning number of girls taking part in Maitland junior cricket programs such as Milo Cricket and the regular junior age competitions as well as representative girls competitions.

He said the girls league was not designed to replace this but act as an adjunct for the girls to have regular competition against each other and for those without previous experience to enter the game.

“We found the girls taking part last year in the training sessions were such eager and quick learners,” he said. 

“Their development was great and it really was an encouraging environment for them to learn the basics of the game and develop their skills.

“The girls competition is a great place for girls new to the sport to learn the game and get to put their new found skills to the test.

“It could be individual girls or teams from winter sports such as netball or football who want to find a sporting activity they can take part in together over summer.”

The girls Twenty20 competition is scheduled to run from Friday, November 3, to Friday, December 8 and depending on numbers is likely to include four teams at both under-13 and under-15 levels.

Girls interested in joining a team or attending one of the come and try days planned can contact Jaclyn Vickery on 0432 161 377.

Mark Warland from Thornton Park Cricket Club can be contacted on 0488 957 942 and Rod Porter from Eastern Suburbs Cricket Club is available on 0405 843 795.