Emerging Women’s Players to Watch Under 21

Lisa Ramjit
Right-hand bat
Right-arm medium
15

Baltimore’s Lisa Ramjit joins Kodali as another American senior international to debut as a 14-year-old.

Listed as a right-arm medium bowler, Ramjit’s action almost resembles a mystery finger spinner, like that of Sunil Narine or Mujeeb ur Rahman. Skipping in almost off the wrong foot like the Afghan, her front-on action, with the ball delivered out the front of her hand, certainly trips up her opponents.

Ramjit troubled Canada in their regional qualifier, and she was rewarded with a spot in the World Cup Qualifier in Scotland, taking wickets against Namibia and PNG, all while keeping things under four an over.

Ramjit, a product of the Maryland Youth Cricket Association set-up, earned 15 minutes of fame outside of cricket, throwing the first ceremonial pitch at a Baltimore Orioles Major League Baseball game in August last year.

Erani Pokana
Left-arm Medium
Papua New Guinea
15

When Erani Pokana joined the local Kempa club after they opened a women’s team in 2017, little did she know her national team debut was less than two years away. Picked in the Lewas’ 2019 Pacific Games squad, Pokana made the most of the opportunity, taking a scalp in a two-over spell against Fiji on debut.

Fancied more for her bowling, Pokana has also shown aptitude in her batting in domestic cricket, and may develop into an all-rounder, continuing a tradition of PNG players who can contribute on both sides of the game.

A left-armer like uncle and Barramundis quick Nosaina Pokana, Erani comes from a strong sporting family across cricket and netball. With a high ceiling of potential as easily the youngest player in the Lewas squad, the future is bright.

Sylvia Shihepo
Right-arm medium
Namibia
19

To play 25 T20Is before your twentieth birthday would be an achievement for anybody, but to do it in a period in less than two years with the advent of universal T20I status is an indication of Shihepo’s importance. If that doesn’t convince you of her quality, her spell of 3-8 against Thailand at the World Cup Qualifier last year will quash any doubts.

Jogging in with poise, Shihepo focuses on getting the ball to almost wobble in the air. Taking a heap of wickets bowled and LBW, Shihepo attacks the stumps, and opponents struggle to play her down the right line.

The Namibians aren’t far away from pushing into the next tier of international women’s teams, and Shihepo’s swing will be a staple to success.

Have any other favourites you think should be included in our series? Let us know in the comments!

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If you missed our men’s series of players to watch under 21, click here!

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