Wollongong product Erin Burns will finally get the chance to represent her state after she earned her first NSW contract at the age of 30 on Monday.
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The contract completes a decade-long journey for the all-rounder after she moved to Tasmania in 2009.
Burns moved to Canberra to represent the Meteors in 2017 and, after producing career-best figures with the ball in last season's Women's National Cricket League, she has finally cracked the top squad in her home state.
The contract comes as the NSW side experiences a changing of the guard, with stars including Ellyse Perry, Belinda Vakarewa and Nicola Carey leaving the team.
Cricket NSW General Manager David Moore said Burns had the perfect mix of talent and experience to slot straight into the squad.
"It's a great opportunity for us to have her as a Breaker at last," Moore said.
"When you lose the calibre of player that we've lost, they're always extremely hard to replace.
"We're not looking to replace those people, we're just looking to get some more experience in and Erin has done a good job during her WNCL career.
"We've got her (and), Rene Farrell, Sarah Aley; experienced players when the Australian players aren't there.
"(There's) some really highly experienced players that we can call on to ensure that we perform well at that level."
Burns will be joined in the NSW squad by Albion Park's Tahlia Wilson, who is set for her third season as a contracted player.
Wilson enjoyed a successful summer in 2018-19, making her debut for both NSW and the Sydney Sixers before touring New Zealand with the Australian Under 19 team in March.
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