Emerging Women’s Players to Watch Under 21

Katherine Fraser
Off-spin
Right-hand bat
Scotland
15

Fraser is considered somewhat of a prodigy in Scotland, and it’s not difficult to see why after debuting for her national team as a 14-year-old last year against Germany in La Manga. Only a season for the Eagles in the domestic Regional Series was enough to convince coaches and selectors to call her up, and Fraser has made the most of the opportunity.

Not afraid to toss the ball up, Fraser lures opposing players out of their ground to combine with Sarah Bryce for stumping opportunities with her stock ball, though the next part of her development is likely to come through adding different deliveries to her arsenal. Speaking to Emerging Cricket regular Jake Perry on behalf of Cricket Scotland, Fraser believes the next step is to work on variations.

“Developing an arm-ball has been my main focus, and I’ve been using that a bit for the Eagles. I’m also more consistent, I would say. I could be quite expensive sometimes, but I’ve really brought down the number of runs, particularly wides, that I’m giving away.”

Fraser’s batting is coming along too, making senior club hundreds and even coming to the national A team’s rescue, in a one-wicket rescue mission against an Ireland Women’s Academy side.

Sterre Kalis
Right-hand bat
Right-arm medium
The Netherlands
20

Alyssa Healy, Meg Lanning, Sterre Kalis.

Third on the page of highest individual scores in Women’s T20Is, Kalis’ 126* from 76 balls against Germany briefly topped the list, all for the two Australians to overtake her later in 2019. Ten fours and five sixes were crunched around the La Manga Ground in Cartagena, in an exhibition of batting almost never seen in the women’s game before. Just to cap off the day, Kalis finished 2-11 off four overs with her right-arm seam.

Kalis is a classy strokeplayer with control despite a high backlift, and seems a step ahead of opposing bowlers with her solid footwork. With pace on or off, Kalis almost toys with her opposition by manipulating the field with an almost-360 degree array of shots.

Kalis was rewarded for an outstanding 2019 with bat in hand, locking up a sponsorship deal with Kookaburra in conjunction with Fairbreak Global.

Geetika Kodali
Right-hand bat
Right-arm medium
United States of America
16

Born in California, Kodali represents a new generation of American women’s cricket. From San Ramon, Kodali debuted as a 14-year-old, marking the occasion by dismissing Canadian captain Mahewish Khan. Joining the Team USA squad in time for the Americas World Cup Qualifier in Florida, she earned a spot on the plane for the Global Qualifier in Scotland soon after, on the back of solid performances.

Kodali’s action is a fusion of classical elements and a new age of fast-bowling. Finishing side-on at delivery stride while using her front arm to get her bearings, Kodali slings it with force, and should build in pace as her career progesses.

Coaches in her area have also praised Kodali’s positive influence on younger players in her region, equipped with a maturity belying her age.