Willetton Junior Cricket Club is celebrating a major milestone, with rising star Alyssa Dermody selected in the Australia Under 19 women’s squad for a tri-series against England and Sri Lanka, in a campaign that will also feature Australian great Meg Lanning on the coaching staff.
Alyssa’s call-up marks a landmark moment for Willetton Junior Cricket Club, with the talented wicketkeeper-batter becoming one of the first girls from the club’s pathway to reach national Under 19 honours. Her selection recognises years of dedication to training, competition and development across WJCC, Perth Cricket Club and state programs in Western Australia.
Dermody has built an impressive resume at youth level, starring at the Cricket Australia Under 16 Female National Championships where she scored 268 runs at an average of 44.6 and was named in the Team of the Tournament. A top-order wicketkeeper-batter, she has consistently dominated the WA Female Youth League, amassing more than 400 runs in a season at an average close to 90 for WA youth sides.
WJCC has proudly highlighted Alyssa’s performances at state and national tournaments, describing her as one of the club’s “shining stars” after her standout Under 16 Championship campaign. The club notes that her success is a reflection not only of her individual work ethic and talent, but also of the strength of the Willetton junior pathway and the volunteers, coaches and teammates who have supported her journey.
Alyssa will now step onto the international stage as part of a 14-player Australian Under 19 women’s squad set to face England and Sri Lanka in a tri-series in Queensland. The series, to be played in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast across both 50-over and T20 formats, is designed as a key stepping stone towards the next ICC Under 19 Women’s T20 World Cup.
Adding to the excitement, former Australian captain and legend Meg Lanning will join the U19 setup as a development coach for the tri-series, working alongside head coach Kristen Beams and the support staff. Lanning, one of Australia’s most decorated players and a multiple World Cup-winning captain, will provide priceless guidance on batting, preparation and leadership to Alyssa and her teammates.
Alyssa’s selection shows junior cricketers at Willetton and across WA that the pathway from local junior cricket to the national stage is real and achievable. Her journey from WJCC fields to wearing Australian colours, now under the mentorship of Meg Lanning, will inspire many young girls and boys picking up a bat and gloves for the first time.
Australia U19 squad: Ira Aery (VIC), Eva Baird (VIC), Mia Barwick (TAS), Alyssa Dermody (WA), Ava Drury (NSW), Ayla Johnson (QLD), Shiloh Julien (NSW), Aurora Mavros (NSW), Indira Panelli (SA), Emily Powell (NSW), Chelsea Sonter (QLD), Ayaka Stafford (QLD), Filippa Suesee (QLD), Tegan Williamson (WA)
