NDCA Women's T20 cricket league explodes to nine clubs for 2021-22

But the stakes have never been higher.

Pride is on the line as Sophie, 19, and younger brother Alex, 15, go head to head this summer.

In the past, they have played on the same team. But, now, they also have the option to represent club Charlestown in their own respective competitions.

Alex is in the Magpies' under-16 SG Moore Cup side. Sophie will etch her name in history as the first ever captain of the Charlestown team entered in a rapidly growing Newcastle District Cricket Association (NDCA) women's league.

"It's who can win the most games and who can take the most wickets," Sophie told the Newcastle Herald.

"He started last Sunday and they won, but he didn't take any wickets. We haven't placed a bet on it - it's purely for bragging rights."

The women's T20 competition has exploded from five teams last summer to nine for its third instalment. There were four teams for the maiden season.

Sophie's cricket career started as many females have in the past - filling in for her brother's team. But a clear pathway is now being established from all-girls junior leagues through to senior club and representative level.

"I was 11 or 12 and they were short," Sophie said. "I've always played with my brother's team since then - he played one year up and I played two years down.

"Female cricket has progressed really quickly. There was nothing when I started playing eight years ago.

"Playing for Charlestown in the women's competition is definitely exciting. There were so many girls at our first training session. When I started, there was only one other girl in the club."

Charlestown are one of five new teams playing in the midweek competition, which begins Wednesday afternoon. The others are Hamilton-Wickham, Warners Bay, Belmont and a second Wests side to be known as the Rosellas.

The Magpies host Warners Bay at Kahibah Oval first up.

"Many of our players come from a hockey background, which is a leg up for playing cricket," Sophie said.

"Warners Bay have a lot of AFL players, so, I'm hoping the hockey players are better than the AFL players and we start with a win. The main goal is to grow the team and competition, but we wouldn't mind a few wins as well."

Back-to-back NDCA women's champions Newcastle City face Waratah-Mayfield in round one in a rematch of last summer's final.

City will be led by Newcastle representative player Kirsten Smith, who developed her game in Scone as the only girl in a boys competition.

The 22-year-old is now part of a strong Newcastle contingent for Northern Districts in the Sydney women's first-grade competition and has been buoyed by the swelling numbers of female players.

"It reflects all of the hard work put into the sport, especially from the grassroots," Smith said. "It's unbelievable to see the growth and there is such a big future for females in cricket.

"A lot of the teams have a good mix of experienced players and ones who haven't actually played before. As the weeks progress, the competition is only going to continue to grow."

Merewether meet Wests at Townson Oval and Hamwicks play Belmont at Passmore Oval.

All games start at 5pm.

The Rosellas have the bye in round one.

The competition will be played over seven rounds with a final slated for December 15.

NDCA chairman Paul Majoribanks told the Herald the women's competition will be used as selection for a Newcastle side to play at NSW Country level.

"We were hoping at some point that we would get to mirror the male competition, so to get to nine teams is fantastic," Majoribanks said.

"I've also had feedback from a couple of the clubs that other than the lockdown period they were pretty close to coming on board this year and it's on their agenda for next year. So, I think we'll see even more growth.

"[NSW] Country cricket are having a women's cup carnival this year, so, for the first time there's a Newcastle side going off to a country carnival.

"The Northern pool is being played on the Central Coast on December 3 and 4. The winner of that plays the winner of the southern pool. It's T20, so from the NDCA competition we'll be selecting a combined Newcastle side to go to that.

"There's a real opportunity now for players to progress from this competition."

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