Veteran Sarah Coyte, a marquee signing who won six WNCL titles with the Breakers earlier in her career, announced she was returning to NSW earlier this week. 

The group will be supplemented by established superstars Alyssa Healy and Ashleigh Gardner, who alongside Phoebe Litchfield, have earned Cricket Australia contracts.

Cricket NSW Head of Elite Women’s Cricket Leah Poulton said the three newcomers and Coyte all brought a different skillset to help balance the squad.

“Obviously Sarah Coyte is a huge signing as the competition’s leading wicket-taker last season,” Poulton said.

“She brings a wealth of experience and knowledge that will help tremendously alongside young players like Ebony (Hoskin) and ‘Isa’ (Malgioglio), and it’s great to be able to welcome her back home.

“Ebony is a developing seamer who came to Sydney from the country before last summer, without a contract, and knocked the door down to earn this reward. It’s a testament to her courage and commitment.

“Isa is a leg-spinner who has come through the NSW Pathway system and made her debut for the Breakers at the end of last summer. Her contract is a credit to the work she has put in away from the professional set up and shows that we will recognise sustained success in Premier Cricket and competitions like our Premier Plus tournament.

“Georgia Adams is an extremely experienced top order batter and offspinner. We were looking to improve our depth at the top of the order and we are confident Georgia will add a lot of value in that area.”  

As a further part of the list build for the upcoming summer, pace bowling all-rounder Maitlan Brown extended her contract by three years, while international bowlers Hannah Darlington and Stella Campbell, and batter Saskia Horley, committed to NSW for two more seasons. Prodigious leg-spinner Jade Allen re-signed for a further year.

Erin Burns, Sammy-Jo Johnson, Tahlia Wilson, Lauren Cheatle, Anika Learoyd and Claire Moore were all already under contract and will return as the Breakers look to return to the WNCL finals for the first time since the 2019/20 season.

Veteran all-rounder Lauren Smith and medium pacer Emma Hughes were de-listed.

“We are delighted that we were able to re-sign Maitlan (Brown), Hannah (Darlington), Stella (Campbell), Saskia (Horley) and Jade (Allen).

“We think we have built a strong and balanced squad under head coach Gavan Twining and having players of the calibre of Midge (Healy), Ash (Gardner) and Phoebe (Litchfield) when they can be around is great for any team.

“We’d also like to recognise the efforts of both Lauren and Emma over several seasons, and we look forward to seeing them as part of our WBBL programs with Lauren at Sydney Thunder and Emma with the Sixers.”

The squad will assemble at Cricket Central at the end of May to begin the pre-season phase of their training.

NSW Breakers 2023/24

* Cricket Australia contract