Lend Lease Breakers batter Leah Poulton has brought the curtain down on a glorious career for NSW by announcing her retirement from all 50 over representative cricket, while also taking up a full-time role managing Cricket NSW’s highly successful female pathway programs.

Poulton has not closed the door on T20 cricket, however the introduction of the Women’s Big Bash League next season means that NSW will not be a part of a National Women’s T20 competition with a move away from the current State team WT20 format.

The 30-year-old, originally from Newcastle, ended her time in State colours on a high in late January by playing a key role in helping the Lend Lease Breakers win a 10th consecutive Women’s National Cricket League 50 over title and the WT20 competition.

Poulton also has the distinction of being one of only two players to have played in all 10 consecutive WNCL premiership winning teams.

“I feel extremely privileged to have represented NSW for as long as I have and I must thank all of my team mates and coaches over the years, including my junior coaches in Newcastle, who have helped me throughout my career,” said Poulton, who played 105 matches in the WNCL along with 72 appearances in the WT20.

“I am very proud of what we have achieved as a team over the last 10 seasons especially, and winning ‘the double’ for the second time was the perfect way to end my playing career with NSW.

“While I am ending my career in NSW colours, I am still keen to stay involved in the game. The start of a Women’s Big Bash League is an exciting prospect and I’m looking forward to working with the next generation of talented cricketers in my new role at Cricket NSW,” she added.

Poulton finished her WNCL career as one of the top-10 leading run scorers in the history of the competition, making 2,741 runs at 30.12 with 19 half-centuries and one century.

She is also the leading run scorer in the short history of the WT20 competition, scoring 2,173 runs at 35.05 with 11 half-centuries. Poulton’s top score of 103 not out, made against the ACT in 2011, remains one of only two centuries made by any player in this competition.

Cricket NSW Chief Executive Andrew Jones said Poulton had played a major role in shaping the culture of the Lend Lease Breakers.

“Leah’s contribution to the Lend Lease Breakers has been enormous. She has won the Belinda Clark Medal as Player of the Year four times and her contribution to team off the field has been just as important through the example she sets to the younger players. She is a wonderful player and a wonderful person.

“While we won’t see her in sky blue anymore, we hope to see her playing in the Women’s Big Bash League next summer,” he said.

“We are also delighted that Leah will continue to play a major part in the on-going success of this State as our new Manager of Female Pathway Programs.

“She is a graduate of the NSW development system, a former NSW U/19 captain, a qualified teacher and will soon have a Masters of Exercise Science and I cannot think of anyone better to oversee the next generation of Breakers,” he said.

As the Manager of Female Pathway, Poulton will be responsible for all Cricket NSW Female Academy Programs across NSW, and the NSW Metro and ACT/NSW Country U/15 and U/18 teams.

Leah Poulton – NSW Playing Career

Born: 27 February 1984 (Newcastle, NSW)
State Debut: NSW vs Victoria, 7 December 2002

WNCL Career

Matches: 105 | Runs: 2741 | Average: 30.12 | 50s: 19 | 100s: 1 | HS: 113

WT20 Career

Matches: 72 | Runs: 2,173 | Average: 35.05 | 50s: 11 | 100s: 1 | HS: 103no