The Salt Water Sirens Club located in St. John’s,
Newfoundland is the newest women’s cricket
club in Canada. The Club was established in
November 2019 with 13 founding members. One
year later, the membership has grown to 20.
Cricket has roots in Newfoundland history. The St.
John’s Cricket Club was established in the 1820s,
one of the first cricket clubs in North America.
From roughly 1870 to 1900, cricket games in St.
John’s attracted thousands of spectators. The only
reference to a women’s match is found in Osvaldo
Croce’s writing on the history of soccer in the City:
The popularity of cricket is also attested by a report
of a peculiar match, played on September 22, 1891,
“between a team of ladies and a team of gentlemen.
The gentlemen wore skirts and played with broomsticks
instead of bats. The ladies were victorious” (Evening
Herald, 23 Sept. 1891)
The game became a rarity after the 1st World
War. There were intermittent attempts to revive the
game but all faltered until Cricket NL was formed in
2010. In June 2019 Cricket NL launched a women’s
programme led by women’s coordinator Janet
Tucker (Jazz). Jazz fell in love with cricket in Victoria,
BC in 2003/2004 when she played for the Wicket
Maidens (featured in Wickets November 2020
issue). Jazz moved to Newfoundland in October
2004 and always dreamed of starting a women’s
cricket club.
SWS coaches Saravana Kumar and David
Liverman (interviewed in Wickets November
2020 issue) held practice sessions throughout
summer 2019 (23 participants – 11 more than
twice) and two co-ed recreational games
were played at the end of summer. In addition,
SWS members took part in a match played
in Harbour Grace to recognize the history of
cricket in that community. The SWS entered
a team in the indoor 2019 fall and 2020 winter
leagues (though only 2/5 winter league games
were played due to snowstorm and pandemic).
Practice sessions were held throughout summer
2020, with three recreational games played
against juniors at the end of summer.
The mission of Salt Water Sirens is to have fun
and develop the cricket skills of all players in
a supportive environment, with long-term
goals of establishing a women’s league
in Newfoundland and competing interprovincially.
Looking ahead to the New Year,
SWS members hope to play in the 2021 winter
league and attend the Women’s Canada Day
Cup in Calgary, AB.
If you live on the Rock and want to play cricket,
please contact saltwatersirensnl@gmail.com.
All ages and levels of skill are welcome. Join
the Salt Water Sirens for love of “the cricket” as
Erin’s Poppy used to call it!
Introducing the Salt Water
Sirens:
Nethmini Hapuarachchige
#1 – A founding member
from Tanzania, Nethmini is a
medium paced bowler and
skilled batsman. She played
in the 2019 Harbour Grace
match, 2019 fall league and
Cricket NL 10th anniversary
game.
Reema Kalani #2 – Reema
comes from India. She joined
in summer 2020.
WICKETS 22
Samridhi Midha #3 – Samridhi is a founding member
from India. She played in the 2019 fall league and
games against juniors in summer 2020.
Annette Bourgeois #4 – Annette is a founding
member from Newfoundland (Secretary). Annette
played in the 2019 fall league, 2020 winter league
and games against juniors in summer 2020.
Debby Lake #5 – Debby is a founding member from
Newfoundland and team photographer.
Nicole Underhay #6 – Nicole is a founding member
from Newfoundland (Vice President). After playing
on a men’s cricket team in Niagara, ON for eight
years, Nicole returned home and played as the
captain in the 2019 fall league and 2020 winter
league. Nicole is taking the coach training offered
by Cricket Canada.
Lora Longerich #8 – Lora is a founding member
from Newfoundland. She played in the 2019 fall
league and 2020 winter league.
Diya Trivedi #9 – Diya is a founding member from
India. At 16 years of age, Diya is the youngest
member and one of the most talented. She played
in the 2019 Harbour Grace match, 2019 fall league,
2020 winter league and games against juniors in
summer 2020. Diya is a fast bowler and aspires to
be selected for Canada’s national women’s team.
Isolde Neis-Evans #10 – Isolde is a founding member
from Newfoundland (Treasurer). She played in the
games against juniors in summer 2020.
Erin O’Mara #11 – Erin is a founding member from
Newfoundland and team photographer. She
played in the 2019 fall league and 2020 winter
league.
Sarah Gash #13 – Sarah comes from England and
joined in summer 2020. Sarah is the star of SWS.
She is a talented spin bowler and batsman, being
the first woman in Newfoundland to score a halfcentury.
In addition to games against juniors, she
played on a men’s team in a 2020 summer league
game. Sarah aspires to be selected for Canada’s
national women’s team.
Sarah Pegrum #14 – Sarah comes from Australia.
She joined in winter 2020.
Sarah Hashmi #15 – Sarah is a founding member
from India.
Neha Kalota #16 – Neha comes from India.
She joined in winter 2020.
Aanchal Vij #17 – Aanchal comes from India.
She joined in winter 2020.
Hardee Shaw #18 – Hardee comes from India
and joined in winter 2020. She played in the
2020 winter league and games against juniors
in summer 2020.
Terilyn Barnes #19 – Terilyn is a Newfoundlander
who joined in summer 2020. She played in the
games against juniors in summer 2020 and
aspires to be selected for Canada’s national
women’s team.
Jaladhi Patel #24 – Jaladhi is a founding
member from India. She played in the 2019
Harbour Grace match, 2019 fall league, 2020
winter league and games against juniors in
summer 2020.
Jazz Tucker #26 – Jazz is a founding member
from British Columbia (President). She played
in the 2019 Harbour Grace match, 2019 fall
league, 2020 winter league, Cricket NL 10th
anniversary game and games against juniors
in summer 2020. Jazz is the women’s director
on Cricket NL board and represents Atlantic
Canada on Cricket Canada’s women’s
committee.
Joyce Lamswood #30 – Joyce is a
Newfoundlander. She played in the games
against juniors in summer 2020. The SWS
scored when she joined in summer 2020. As
a hockey player, Joyce has the ability to
become a talented cricket player and hopes
to entice some of her hockey teammates to
give cricket a try!
ST JOHN’S NEWFOUNDLAND’S SALT WATER SIRENS: CANADA’S NEWEST WOMEN’S CRICKET CLUB
