The Allan Border Field will play host this weekend to the world’s quickest bowler for the second time in a month.

After Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar demonstrated why is almost universally acclaimed as the world’s fastest bowler in men’s cricket when Pakistan played the XXXX Queensland Bulls a fortnight ago, Victoria’s Cathryn Fitzpatrick will be on show this weekend against the Konica Queensland Fire in the Women’s National Cricket League.

Fitzpatrick, a regular in the World Cup winning Australian team, is widely regarded as the quickest bowler in women’s cricket in the world, having been clocked at 120 km/hr last season.

Although not in the Shoaib pace bracket, Fitzpatrick has been Australia’s leading strike bowler for the past few seasons and was the first woman to claim five wickets in an innings at Lords for the Southern Stars on their Ashes tour last year.

She will spearhead a strong Victorian Spirit team for the two one-day matches against the Konica Fire this weekend, with fellow Australian squad members Melanie Jones, Jane Franklin, Ando Aparo, Charmaine Mason and Louise Broadfoot in the team.

Queensland will be captained by Australian squad member Jodi Dannatt for the first time, with long-time national wicket-keeper Julia Price appointed vice-captain.

The Fire will also boast an array of national squad players, including Megan White, Tricia Brown, Melissa Bulow and Australian Youth squad member Kelly Klibbe, but will miss two of last season’s regulars, Sally Cooper and Renea Lee who are touring England with the Australian Indoor cricket team.

Queensland Under-19 allrounder Leonie Shields is expected to play after making a good recovery from a shin injury, meaning that 15-year-old off-spinner Belinda Matheson will miss her chance to make her National League debut.

Former Queensland Sheffield Shield wicket-keeper Peter Drinnen is coaching the Fire team this season.

The team will play two One-Day matches, with play starting at 10am each day. Admission is free. Allan Border Field is located at 1 Bogan Street, Albion. Entry will be via the Bill Brown Gates at Bogan Street and the new Players Pavilion will be open.

KONICA QUEENSLAND FIRE V Victorian Spirit, Allan Border Field, Sat-Sun: Jodi Dannatt (c), Julia Price (v-c), Tricia Brown, Bronwyn Buckley, Melissa Bulow, Maryanne Brandon, Angela Farrell, Kelly Klibbe, Cindy Kross, Vanessa Pickering, Leonie Shields/Belinda Matheson, Megan White.

© 1999 Queensland Cricket