Cricket

Ashley Noffke, a highly respected coach in Australian cricket, has made a significant career move by leaving his roles with Queensland's WNCL team, Brisbane Heat in the WBBL, and UP Warriorz in the WPL to take up a new coaching position with the Otago men's team in New Zealand.Noffke's departure marks a continuation of coaching changes within Queensland cricket, following the departure of Wade Seccombe from the men's team and Heat despite their BBL title victory. Noffke was considered a strong candidate for those roles before Johan Botha was appointed.Mark Sorell, who previously coached the Australian women's team from 2005-2007, has been named as Noffke's replacement for both Queensland and Heat on a one-season contract."This is a fantastic opportunity for me in my coaching journey," Noffke said of his move to Otago. "The Volts and Otago Cricket are on the cusp of something special, and I'm keen to be part of that."Noffke took on the Heat and Queensland coaching roles in 2019-20, leading the Heat to a WBBL title in his first season and guiding Queensland to its inaugural WNCL title in 2020-21."It's bittersweet to be leaving the Fire and the Heat," he said in a Queensland Cricket statement. "I'm excited about what lies ahead, especially working in a new program, but there are a lot of good memories from my time in Queensland."Noffke, who starts with Otago later this month, will continue as coach of London Spirit in the Women's Hundred this season before resuming the pre-season back in New Zealand.Queensland and Heat captain Jess Jonassen acknowledged the recent coaching changes but expressed confidence in the teams' ability to handle the transition."We've undergone some change throughout the off season and to have 'Motsa' [Sorrell] commit to the head coach position is a great way to provide our group with some stability moving forward," she said. "He is extremely experienced and brings a lot of positive energy and enthusiasm to the role. I'm excited to see him dive in and continue to challenge the group."

England batter Lauren Winfield-Hill has signed a contract with Queensland to play in Australia's Women's National Cricket League (WNCL) next summer. The 33-year-old, who has played in nine matches for Queensland in the past, will join the team after the conclusion of the English domestic season.Winfield-Hill's decision to join Queensland comes after she expressed concerns about the England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) decision to defer Yorkshire's entry into Tier 1 of the new women's domestic competition. She described the move as "unsettling" for her Northern Diamonds team.Winfield-Hill is based in Brisbane during the Australian summer as she is married to former Queensland and Brisbane Heat pace bowler Courtney Winfield-Hill. She has been a consistent performer for Queensland in the past, scoring 194 runs at an average of 32.33 last season, including a half-century in the final.Queensland have also added four teenagers to their squad for the upcoming season: Sienna Eve, Elsa Hunter, Lauren Kua, and Kate Pelle. Eve and Hunter are both all-rounders, while Kua is a wicketkeeper-batter and Pelle is a batter.New South Wales have also announced their female contract list for the 2024-25 season. The Blues have added four teenagers to their squad: Eve, Hunter, Kua, and Pelle. They have also released Scotland international Saskia Horley, who has moved permanently to the UK.The WNCL is Australia's premier domestic women's cricket competition. It is contested by eight teams from around the country. The competition will be played from October 2024 to March 2025.

Josie Dooley, the 24-year-old wicketkeeper-batter for the Melbourne Renegades and South Australia, has been hospitalized in Brisbane after suffering a stroke while vacationing in Hawaii.On April 15th, Dooley was on the Hawaiian island of Kauai when she experienced a stroke due to hydrocephalus, a condition characterized by an excessive buildup of fluid in the brain. She was immediately airlifted to Honolulu for urgent neurosurgical treatment.Following surgery, Dooley spent 18 days in the neurosciences ICU of the Queen's Hospital in Honolulu before being transferred to a neurosurgical ward for an additional 12 days. Once medically stable, she was evacuated to her hometown of Brisbane and readmitted to the hospital.Dooley's condition is improving, and she has expressed gratitude for the support of her family, friends, and teammates during this challenging time. The Dooley family has requested privacy at this time.Dooley's cricket career began with the Brisbane Heat in the WBBL in 2018-19. She has since played 65 matches for the Renegades. In the WNCL, she initially represented Queensland before joining South Australia in 2020-21.Dooley has also represented Australia at the Under-16 and Under-19 levels, played for Australia A, and faced England as part of the Governor-General's XI in 2017.