Importantly, the Tigers have retained 13 of the 15 players who were contracted for the 2022-23 season, keeping together a core group of players who are hungry for sustained success.Following the announcement of Molly Strano’s contract extension the week after the Tigers remarkable WNCL victory at Blundstone Arena, a host of other familiar faces have also re-signed, including home-grown heroes Amy Smith, Sasha Moloney and Clare Scott, along with Naomi Stalenberg, Julia Cavanough and Callie Wilson.The Female Tigers Player of the Year for 2022-23, Nicola Carey, comes onto the state contract list for the first time, signing a three-year deal which will see the 29-year-old allrounder remain in Tigers colours until at least 2026.Meanwhile exciting opener, Lizelle Lee, also joins the Tigers contract list for the first time, after a superb debut season which saw the former South African international finish as the competition’s third-highest run-scorer, with 559 runs at an average of 50.81.New faces to the squad include experienced New South Wales campaigner, Lauren Smith, with the 26-year-old right arm off spinner making the move south to Tasmania on a one-year deal.Joining her will be fellow New South Welshwoman, Beth Lane. The 19-year-old leg spinner has made numerous appearances for her home state at underage level, as well as had significant success as a teenager playing for Penrith in the Cricket NSW Premier Cricket.Rounding out the trio of newcomers for the Tigers will be 25-year-old South Australian, Tabatha Saville. With previous experience playing for both the South Australia Scorpions and the Adelaide Strikers before opting to take a break from the elite game, the middle order batter is a great addition to round out the Tigers’ list.Maisy Gibson elected not to receive a contract for the 2023-24 season after expressing the desire to take a break from elite cricket.Tasmanian Tigers 2023-24 female contract list:Nicola Carey, Julia Cavanough, Heather Graham (CA contracted), Beth Lane, Lizelle Lee, Emma Manix-Geeves, Sasha Moloney, Tabatha Saville, Clare Scott, Hayley Silver-Holmes, Amy Smith, Lauren Smith, Naomi Stalenberg, Molly Strano, Rachel Trenaman, Elyse Villani, Callie Wilson.Changes to 2022-23 contract list:IN: Beth Lane, Lizelle Lee, Tabatha Saville, Lauren Smith (NSW)OUT: Maisy Gibson, Emma Thompson (retired)Tasmanian Tigers head coach, Jude Coleman, said she was pleased with how the contracting period had played out for the Tigers female program.“When teams start experiencing success or a change in leadership, it can sometimes be difficult to keep the bulk of a group together, so I’m really pleased that our squad looks really similar to the one that was so cohesive on and off the field last season,” Coleman said.“With the new MOU, the opportunity to contract up to 16 state players really gives us the opportunity to develop our depth as a squad, so it’s great that we’ve been able to keep the players who have been in and around our program for several years, whilst also introducing some new talent to our squad.“Lauren is a really experienced campaigner who we know will be able to slot straight in and perform at this level if required, whilst Beth is a really exciting young talent who will still give us that option of playing two leg spinners that has been quite a successful tactic for us if required.“Tabatha is an extremely talented batter – very athletic and a great fielder too. She’s had a break from the elite game for a couple of years, but came back with some great form in SACA Premier Cricket last season, so we’re really looking forward to seeing what she can do with us at the top level.”Coming into the season as reigning champions, Coleman also acknowledged that the quality and intensity of the competition was only going to increase.“We know we’re going to be the hunted this year, and there’s not much we can do about that except acknowledge it and get on with what we know we need to do to be successful.“This group has not shied away from talking about success and the big goals that they want to achieve, and I can’t see that changing moving forward.”The Tigers will officially commence their 2023-24 campaign when they return for their pre-season training block in June.
