Taylor to make history against the men

England star Sarah Taylor will make history on Saturday, becoming the first woman to play in a men’s two-day A grade match in Australia.

The wicketkeeper-batter will play for the Northern Districts Cricket Club in their season-opener against Port Adelaide in South Australia’s top men’s competition, where she will line-up alongside South Australian batsman Mark Cosgrove.

She will be the first woman to play in the competition's top flight since the league was formed in 1897.

Taylor, who has played eight Tests, 98 One-Day Internationals and 73 Twenty20s for England, will stand behind the stumps for Northern Districts and bat at number eight.

"I’m nervous and excited," Taylor, the reigning ICC Women’s One-Day International Cricketer of the Year, told cricket.com.au.

"I’ve always wanted to push myself and check where I’m at in terms of my cricket."

Taylor said she was not placing added pressure on herself by setting any particular goals.

"It’s going to take a bit for me to get used to the extra pace and bounce but I want to challenge myself and test where my cricket is at, to see if I can cope at that level.

"If I can’t I can’t and if I can, I can, but it will be a good challenge.

"If I get any sledging, it’s a bit of respect because they’re treating me like one of the other players."

Watch: Taylor's match-winning fifty against Australia

Only Southern Stars pace legend Cathryn Fitzpatrick has previously played men’s top grade cricket in Australia, appearing in one Twenty20 for Dandenong in 2006-07.

Former Australian captain Karen Rolton featured in several B and C grade matches for Port Adelaide during the early 2000s.

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It is not the first time Taylor, the second-ranked batter in women’s ODI cricket behind Southern Stars captain Meg Lanning, has lined up alongside men.

Two years ago, Taylor played for Walmley in the Birmingham and District Premier League — one of England’s strongest club competitions.

Taylor is in Australia to play for the Breezair SA Scorpions in the Women’s National Cricket League, and will carry confidence into Saturday's match having scored an impressive 101 in the Scorpions’ first match of the season against the Lend Lease Breakers last weekend.

"I’m just really happy with my glove-work through the England summer as a whole, so hopefully I can take that form into the men’s game,” she said.

Northern Districts cricket director Sean Watt said Taylor’s selection had been endorsed by state talent manager Tim Nielsen and ex-Redbacks coach Darren Berry, now part of the Jets’ coaching panel.

Cricket Australia General Manager Team Performance Pat Howard said Taylor was up for the challenge.

"As the women’s game becomes increasingly professional there are more opportunities than ever before for elite female players,” Howard said.

"Sarah’s selection for the Northern District Cricket Club’s first XI is a demonstration that cricket is a sport for all.

"We are very proud that our women’s domestic competitions are arguably the strongest in the world and our ability to attract world-class players such as Sarah is testament to that."

Taylor has also signed with the Adelaide Strikers for the inaugural Women’s Big Bash League season.