It's boom times for women's cricket in Australia after an announcement today.
Two days after it was announced that elite female players would get a pay rise, there are now plans for a new centre of excellence in Sydney.
Fresh from representing Australia at the women's Twenty20 World Cup in India, Rene Farrell was on hand for the announcement of the facility on Friday, which could prove a game changer for the women's game in NSW.
Farrell took part in the ceremonial turning-over of turf for the new cricket centre at Penshurst, in southern Sydney.
When completed, the facility will include an indoor training centre and a synthetic all-weather playing field, complete with new outdoor turf training nets and lighting.
The story of women's cricket is becoming one of exponential growth.
"We're getting more and more people through the gates and with that exposure I think the game's just going to increase and females are going to play a big role in moving cricket forward to become Australia's favourite sport," Farrell said.
The facility, dubbed as the state's burgeoning cricket precinct, has been paid for by Hurstville City Council, with a $400,000 contribution by Cricket NSW and Cricket Australia.
"It's part of a very explicit strategy to develop cricket in community centres all around Sydney linked to grade clubs and local junior associations, male and female, and all around the state," Cricket NSW CEO Andrew Jones said.
With the Sydney Cricket Ground at full capacity, it's hoped the new southern facility can manage the overflow.
The facility is being hailed for incorporating both the local and elite levels of the game.
Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood, also freshly returned from the World Twenty20 in India, said new infrastructure was the only way forward for the sport.
"For us elites, it'd be great to get the women and us as well, the men, when you might not be able to get on the SCG, we can come down here and get a nice turf wicket," he said.
The project is expected to be completed in time for the 2017-18 cricket season.
