Terrigal Matcham Cricket Club is celebrating another incredible milestone from one of its own, with Ava Drury continuing to establish herself as one of Australia’s brightest young cricketing talents.
Ava Drury in action for Australia U19
Fresh from representing Australia at Under 19 level on an international tour of Sri Lanka, Ava has backed up her performances by again wearing the green and gold during the Under 19 Women’s Tri-Series in Queensland against England and Sri Lanka. Her outstanding season has now been recognised with one of the highest honours in country cricket, being named the Cricket NSW Country Youth Female Player of the Year.
“I feel very honoured and proud to be able to play in the country pathway and to have been recognised with this award,” Drury said.
For everyone at Terrigal Matcham Cricket Club, the recognition is no surprise.
Having progressed through the club’s junior pathways before representing the Central Coast, Northern District Cricket Club, NSW Country, NSW and now Australia, Ava continues to inspire the next generation of young cricketers dreaming of following a similar path.
After earning selection in Australia’s Under 19 squad for the multi-format tour of Sri Lanka in 2025, Ava impressed against quality international opposition, showcasing the composure and skill that have become trademarks of her game. As a left-arm off-spinner, she consistently challenged batters while demonstrating her ability to perform under pressure, including impressive bowling figures throughout the series.
Drury was among Australia’s standout performers during the Under-19 tour of Sri Lanka, claiming nine wickets at an outstanding average of just 13.22, underlining her growing reputation as one of the country’s most promising young spin bowlers, and earning Player of the Match honours.
Ava Drury was named Player of the Match on the Australian U19 tour of Sri Lanka
Drury said the international tour would aid her development for future series. “Always being open to trying new things and taking every piece of advice or opportunity that came my way, even if I was unsure about it, was really important.
I also think it was pretty cool to experience playing in different conditions and having to adapt to them, as well as understanding how my role in the team could change from game to game.”
Her performances ensured she remained firmly in Australia’s plans, leading to selection in the 2026 Under 19 Women’s Tri-Series hosted in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast, where Australia faced England and Sri Lanka in preparation for future international campaigns. The squad featured many of the country’s most exciting young players and was guided by an experienced coaching staff led by Kristen Beams, with Australian greats Lisa Keightley and Meg Lanning also involved in player development.
Throughout the tournament, Ava continued to contribute with both her bowling and her energy in the field, further strengthening her credentials as one of Australia’s emerging prospects.
“It was quite surreal. Wearing the Aussie uniform is definitely not something I ever thought I would be lucky enough to do. I think I was in disbelief most of the time but loved every second of it,” Drury said.
Reward for Years of Dedication
The announcement that Ava had been named Cricket NSW Country Youth Female Player of the Year capped an exceptional 12 months.
The prestigious award recognises the outstanding player from regional New South Wales and reflects not only her performances for NSW Country and Australia but also the dedication, professionalism and work ethic she has displayed throughout her cricket journey.
Those qualities have long been evident to coaches, teammates and volunteers at Terrigal Matcham Cricket Club, where Ava developed her love of the game before progressing through representative cricket.
“My love for the game and learning about it started in a TMCC shirt. The club always has, and continues to, support me and all of its female players.
I was lucky enough to be coached by Grace Dignam when I started playing, who taught me so much about the game, and always inspires me to keep working hard, as did my coach Michael Phillips who played a huge role in my cricket development at the club.
I also had girls a few years older than me, like Emily Humphreys and Tara French, who guided and looked out for me,” Drury said on reflection of her time with TMCC.
Drury & Humphreys representing NSW in 2025/26
Inspiring the Next Generation
For a community club, there are few greater rewards than seeing a junior player progress to the international stage while remaining a wonderful ambassador for grassroots cricket.
Ava’s achievements demonstrate what can be accomplished through hard work, perseverance and a genuine passion for the game. Her success is also a reminder to every young player pulling on the maroon and gold that opportunities exist for those willing to embrace every training session, every match and every challenge.
The entire Terrigal Matcham Cricket Club community is enormously proud of everything Ava has achieved and looks forward to following the next chapter of what is shaping as an outstanding cricket career.
Congratulations, Ava. Your club is incredibly proud of you, and we can’t wait to see where your journey takes you next.