Photo: Jo Haylen with Australian cricketer Alyssa Healy and girls from the T20 Blast competition at Blackmore Oval.

Councillor Jo Haylen today joined young women from the T20 Blast- Girls Only to celebrate their success so far with renowned Australian cricketer, Alyssa Healy.

Clr Haylen said it was the work of the community that had seen the kick-start of Inner West girls cricket and she was pleased to have helped with the process.

“As Mayor, I was pleased to assist by securing Petersham Park for the T20 Blast-Girls Only competition on Friday nights,” Clr Haylen said.

“It’s a fantastic local park, with a great cricketing heritage and is the perfect place to start this new competition,” Clr Haylen said.

Clr Haylen said it was great to see so many local girls taking an active interest in sport.

“It’s really important to make sure we do what we can to support and foster the talent of girls in sport,” Clr Haylen said.

“This is the Inner West’s first female club, and it’s a real testimony to the hard work of Summer Hill Cricket Club, Marrickville Cricket Club and Cricket NSW that it is up and running,” Clr Haylen said.

“Last International Women's Day Marrickville Council hosted a women in sport expo at Steel Park. I want to continue to do all I can to encourage local women and girls participate in organised support, and also promote elite sport,” Clr Haylen said.

“Whilst I certainly haven’t played at an elite level, my younger sister and I did play for our local under 18s women’s cricket team. We loved Saturdays in summer and made some lifelong friends.

"I want to see more girls taking up cricket, and this local T20 competition is a great way to start,” Clr Haylen said.

The T20 competition is held on Fridays from 5:30pm- 7pm.

T20 Blast – Girls Only involves a modified game of T20 Cricket. Girls will receive coaching tips, and all equipment is supplied, including a soft ball. Everyone gets to bat, bowl and field in a festival-like atmosphere that includes music and dancing.