The Western Fury has secured a major coup in the lead-up to the 2008-09 Women's National Cricket League (WNCL) season with the signing of highly-rated England all-rounder Jenny Gunn.
The 22-year old from Nottingham has been a regular member of the England team since making her Test debut at the age of 17 against New Zealand in 2004. She has also spent the past two seasons playing for the SA Scorpions in the WNCL.
A hard-hitting batter and right-arm swing bowler, Gunn has proven to be a match-winner for her country, particularly in the shorter forms of the game. She has scored over 1,000 runs and taken 73 wickets for England in six Tests, 53 one-day internationals and eight Twenty20 internationals.
In 15 WNCL matches for the Scorpions, Gunn made 268 runs at an average of 24.36 and took 15 wickets at 18.47. She has exceptional sporting pedigree, being the daughter of Nottingham Forest European Cup-winning defender Bryn Gunn.
Western Fury Head Coach Steve Philippe says Gunn will be a fantastic acquisition to the squad.
"The benefits of Jenny coming to the Western Fury are two-fold. For us, she will play a major role in our push for a finals berth, and for herself personally, she will gain another season of experience in Australian conditions ahead of next year's ICC Women's World Cup," Philippe said.
"Along with Rene Farrell, Jenny will form the basis of a very potent pace attack to go alongside Southern Stars squad member Lauren Ebsary and developing quicks Lauren Shave and Holly Hyder.
"And her outstanding skills in the field, added to the likes of Ebsary, Renee Chappell and Amanda Williams, will help to make us arguably the best team in the competition in that area."
Clare Connor, Head of Women's Cricket at the England Cricket Board, says Gunn is rapidly becoming one of the most consistent all-rounders in international cricket.
"She can win matches with bat or ball and has the ability to turn games with her dynamic fielding," Connor said.
"Jenny will be a real asset to the Western Fury. Her work ethic will show the youngsters around her what it takes to reach the highest level and her passion for the game will be infectious.
"We wish her every success for her time with the Fury in the hope that she will be ideally prepared to deliver some world class performances for England when she joins the rest of the squad for the ICC World Cup next March.”
Gunn says she is looking forward to joining a young and very talented side.
"I felt very sad to leave South Australia, but I am going to relish the new challenges that playing for the Western Fury will bring," Gunn said.
"I think the upcoming season promises to be an exciting one for the Fury and I will be aiming to do my part in helping the team step up and make the finals."
Fixtures for the 2008-09 WNCL season are set to be announced in the coming days. The ICC Women's World Cup will feature the top eight women's teams in world cricket and will be held in New South Wales and ACT from 7-22 March 2009.
