GABBA - Queensland Cricket

Coach Jo Broadbent isn’thiding behind past disappointmentsin setting goalsfor the Konica MinoltaQueensland Fire this summer– she’s aiming for atop two finish.Broadbent, in her thirdyear at the helm, says theside which finished fourthin the five-team Women’sNational Cricket Leaguelast summer certainly hasthe capabilities to figure inthe title decider.Why? Because the experienceof a 2004-05 campaignin which they lostfour extra close games willstand them in good stead,she says, plus the additionof international leg-spinnerLouise Broadfoot and thefact that Jude Coleman,Australian indoor women’scaptain, will play a fullseason after joining theFire partway through lastseason.Also,Broadbentsenses agenuineself-beliefwithin theFire ranksamid aWOMEN’S NATIONAL CRICKET LEAGUEHot Prospects for Fire in2005-06 WNCL Seasongeneral evening out of thecompetition.The Fire, with current AustralianrepresentativesJulia Price and KirstenPike, will begin their campaignagainst SA in Adelaideon 5-6 November.The season was officiallylaunched last Thursday6 October by ex-Australiancaptain Belinda Clark butbefore they get down tobusiness the Fire playerswill have to conquer atesting pre-season camp.Broadbent, keeping detailssecret to maximize impact,would confirm only thatthe players would shortlybe off camping in the bushfor a night as part of abonding exercise designedto improve communicationwithin the group.Belinda Clark withGrahame Campbellof Konica Minolta“It’s been a great preparationand we hope this willjust top us off,” she said.The 2005-06 Konica Minolta Fire - (Back Row): Cameron Garnham (coaching assistant),Angela Murnane, Jude Coleman, Danielle Hollis, Jodie Purves, Kirsten Pike, Rikki-LeeRimmington, Belinda Matheson, Louise Broadfoot, Laura Bates, Grahame Campbell(Konica Minolta). (Front Row): Jo Broadbent (coach), Kirby Short, Kasee Marxsen,Melissa Bulow (captain), Kate MacGibbon, Angela Christie.In other Fire news:-• Australian Youth representativeKasee Marxsenwill miss the firstand possibly the secondround of matches of theWNCL season followingrecent leg surgery.• Rookie Reanna Brown, afringe member of theteam last summer, istraveling overseas andisn’t expected to play atall at WNCL level thissummer.• Fast bowler LeteyshaRandall, who missedvirtually the entire2004-05 season due toa knee injury, will lookto impress in earlyrounds of the gradecricket competition topush her claims.