Cricket Tasmania would like to congratulate Female Tasmanian Tigers and Hobart Hurricanes Captain, Elyse Villani, on her third Women’s Domestic Player of the Year in four seasons, which will be presented tonight at the Australian Cricket Awards.
Villani has tied for this award with Victorian all-rounder, Sophie Day, who was presented with her first cap for Victoria and the Melbourne Stars by Villani during the 2020/21 season.
Since arriving in Tasmania at the beginning of the 2021/22 season, Villani has been an ever-reliable and consistent performer at the top of the order, providing the Tigers and Hurricanes with a fantastic start to their matches.
Throughout 2023, Villani scored 627 WNCL runs at an average of 69.67 including an outstanding 110 in the 2022/23 WNCL Final against the South Australian Scorpions, and a top score of 174* against Western Australia in February 2023.
Villani also scored 324 runs in the Weber WBBL|09 competition in 12 innings for an average of 36 runs, whilst captaining the side to a sixth-place finish, only two points away from a finals berth.
Villani’s leadership helps her stand out among her peers, and Head Coach of the Female Tigers Program, Jude Coleman, spoke highly of ‘Junior’s’ leadership qualities.
“For our squad to see Junior standing next to them in the field, makes them stand a little taller.
“She has helped set the standards for our organisation, and to have someone with her experience in cricket lead our women’s program, allows us to continue to strive for success and has been a huge factor in helping us achieve back-to-back WNCL titles,” Coleman explained.
Villani feels blessed to be a part of illustrious group of cricketers who have won this award and is the first female cricketer to have won the award three times.
“It’s really special to be seen by my peers as someone that's consistent at the domestic level, and I'm lucky enough that I get to play with and against some amazing female athletes, and really great people as well.
“I've been involved at this level for 16 years, I've had amazing support both on and off the field from a number of organisations, family, friends, teammates, opposition players, and I just feel really grateful to still be able to play the game that I love, and that's what drives me.” Villani said.
We would like to thank Elyse for her leadership for our Tigers program and congratulate her on winning this award. Well done, Junior!