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Coyte ready to make her mark in red

Southern Stars quick will make her Scorpions debut today - against her old team

Earlier this year, Sarah Coyte was celebrating her fifth Women’s National Cricket League title with New South Wales.

Today, the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars fast bowler will instead find herself lining up for the Breezair SA Scorpions - the team the Breakers defeated in that record-breaking final – in the opening round of the 2015-16 WNCL season.

"I’m nervous and excited, but at the end of the day it’s another game of cricket," Coyte said.

"It’s the same game I’ve played for God knows how long, but coming into a new team and a new squad I want to make a good impression.

"I want to hopefully win some games for them and bring some experience to the table.

"I can’t wait to put on the red colours and get out there."

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Coyte said several factors had influenced her decision to leave NSW and sign with the Scorpions.

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

"There will be a bit more opportunity here for me with the bat, I think,” the 24-year-old said.

"I was ready for a new challenge and I’ve found that with the Scorpions.

"So far it’s been a good challenge for me, I’ve learned a lot so far and there’s a lot more to come."

Image Id: ~/media/808935A6AEAD48FC9B82A3E30C09C5B9

Coyte won last year's WNCL with the Breakers // Getty Images

While the Breakers’ batting line-up – which features Australian vice-captain Alex Blackwell and allrounder Ellyse Perry - meant Coyte often batted at No.7, she said she hoped to climb into the top five at South Australia.

"Batting is going to be more of a focus for me, although obviously my bowling is first and foremost.

"I’ll hopefully get some time in the middle. I want to put in the hard yards with the bat and make my mark there as well.

"Hopefully the guys ahead of me get some runs, but if I get my chance in the middle, I will hopefully make the most of it."

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At the Scorpions, Coyte will be reunited with her Southern Stars bowling partner Megan Schutt, with the pair to form a formable pace attack.

"We bowl really well in partnership," she said.

"During the Ashes we had a few good partnerships, in the Test and in the one day stuff as well. Hopefully we’ll do some serious damage. We’ve got (New Zealander) Sophie Devine here now too and she’s been bowling really well too, so we’ve got a really good bowling line-up.”

The Scorpions will aim to replicate their 2014-15 WNCL final appearance this season, and Coyte said she believed they had the right squad to challenge for the title.

"They hadn’t had much experience in final (before last season) so I think as a group, they really learned a lot playing against NSW in that final.

"We have a couple of big teams first up with Western Australia and New South Wales, but I think we’re more than ready for the challenge."

Breezair SA Scorpions coach Andrea McCauley a player of Coyte’s calibre would be a real asset to South Australia, while the Scorpions will also be boosted by the return of England’s Sarah Taylor and New Zealand’s Devine.

Last season, the pair both played crucial roles in helping the Scorpions into their first 50-over final since 2007-08.

"To have Sophie and Sarah (Taylor) back for another season adds to the exciting mix of youth and experience we have in the group," McCauley said.

"The girls took a lot from last year’s performances, especially the final, and combined with a really good preseason, we’ll be looking to hit the ground running against two of the strongest teams in the competition."