The Konica Queensland Fire will embark on their quest to win the State's first national women's championship this weekend when they commence their Women's National Cricket League season with two matches against Victoria at Allan Border Field.

The Fire reached the Final of the WNCL last season for the first time only to lose to five-time champions NSW, but will begin the 2001-2002 season full of confidence.

The team for the opening round includes Australian players Julia Price and Sally Cooper, members of the undefeated Southern Stars team that won the Ashes in England in July, national squad members Melissa Bulow and Tricia Brown and former Australian allrounder Megan White.

White has returned to Brisbane after a season playing with Victoria and is joined in the team by pace bowler Renee Lee, who missed last season to concentrate on indoor cricket.

The Fire team also contains three members of the Konica Queensland Under-19 team in Gold Coast off-spinner Belinda Matheson, Sunshine Coast pace bowler Kirsten Pike and Toowoomba bat Jodie Purves.

Victoria will include Australian pace-bowling spearhead Cathryn Fitzpatrick, the fastest bowler in world women's cricket, and Southern Stars captain Belinda Clark, who has relocated from Sydney to Melbourne to assist with the integration of Women's Cricket Australia with the ACB.

The teams will play limited over matches on Saturday and Sunday. Entry is free, with play commencing at 10am.

KONICA QUEENSLAND FIRE v Victorian Spirit, Allan Border Field, Saturday and Sunday: Julia Price (Captain), Bronwyn Buckley (vice-captain), Melissa Bulow, Belinda Matheson, Sally Cooper, Tricia Brown, Megan White, Jodie Purves, Leonie Shields, Cindy Kross, Renee Lee, Kirsten Pike.

© 2001 Queensland Cricket