The accolades just keep on coming for Denman’s cricket star Caoimhe Bray who last week was announced as the latest recipient of the Betty Wilson Young Cricketer of the Year award.
“The vibes were definitely high when I got the call about it, I wasn’t sure what to expect but I knew through voting for the award that I was up for it,” she shared.
“The fact that it’s peers or people who you play with and who you verse that are recognising the skill and what they can see in the future adds a little touch to the award.”
Eligibility includes being under 24 and playing 25 or less combined List A and T20 domestic and international matches, and then Cricket Australia sends out the call to players to cast their vote on the short list of players who tick these boxes.
It has been a hard couple of months for the teenager who was sidelined just before the Sydney Sixers final match of the 2025 WBBL campaign due to injury.
“I’ve got a stress fracture in my back, I missed out on our last game and since then I’ve just been resting,” she explained.
“Only recently I’ve been able to start bike riding and swimming again.”
This is the same vertebrae Caoimhe had damage to previously, so considerable care is being taken to ensure it is looked after and she can return to full strength next season.
“I get my three-month scan on the second of March, and if that comes back all good, which should, that’s when I can start running and is where I could come back into training and actually be doing something with the team,” she said.
“But I’m still going down to the games, watching the girls play.”
The Sydney Sixers website boasted of Caoimhe’s achievement saying it cements her status as one of the most exciting young talents in Australian cricket.
“At just 16 years old—and only 15 for the majority of the voting period—Bray has delivered a remarkable 12 months across the WBBL, WNCL and the T20 Spring Challenge, earning national recognition and joining an illustrious list of previous winners including Sophie Molineux, Georgia Wareham, Tayla Vlaeminck, Darcie Brown and Courtney Sippel.
“Bray produced several standout performances during the award period (December 11, 2024 to December 13, 2025), including a stunning WBBL Player of the Match performance and hat-trick against the Sydney Thunder on her way to figures of 4-15 off 4 overs.
“She finished the WBBL season with 8 wickets at 21.75 for the Sixers.
“Across eight WNCL matches, Bray showcased her all‑round ability, scoring 71 runs at 23.67 and taking 8 wickets at 25.38.
“In the T20 Spring Challenge, she added another layer to her rapidly growing reputation—posting 61 runs at an average of 61, including a powerful 38 off 21 balls against the Renegades, and collecting 3 wickets at 25.0 across four matches.”
-JEM ANSHAW
