|
How long have you been at Streatham & Marlborough? I see you’ve played for Surrey since 2013, but on cricinfo your match performances only go back to 2018...what’s going on there?
I’ve been at Streatham & Marlborough for about 2 years now (I think?) after a couple of my mates, Fab, Taylor and Reece joined as well. It turned out Neneto, who I’d met through training at the Oval, was at the club as well, so it was good to have a few familiar faces! I’ve got no idea what’s going on with Cricinfo …maybe my stats were too good? Haha no, I think all our stats get put onto Play-Cricket instead of Cricinfo, I’ve just found my stats from 2006!! (have a look here)
You play mainly as a bowler, right? I’ve seen you smash it in games when I have been umpiring...are you one of these bowlers who thinks the batsmen have it easy? What cricket performance is your finest?
Yeah, nothing classier than a bit of out swinging seam, but I am also a big promoter of having a hit at the tail end! I wouldn’t say batters have it easy but feel free to ask me that again after I get my first batter of the season who inside edges me for 4…
I’ll be honest, picking my best performance is tough! In one match against Sussex, I opened the bowling with Priyanaz Chatterji, we just had the dream opening spell, built pressure, got early wickets, had Sussex pinned down for the first 10 overs and it felt like all our work had paid off! Or it was playing my first match with Fab, Taylor and Reece for Streatham & Marlborough, we all made a contribution to wickets/catches/runs and generally was a great day all round. That said, generally it’s got to be any time I get to play at the Oval, it’s the best ground to play on, you can’t not love fielding on that outfield, and the vibe there, and at the Beehive pub afterwards, is always great!
Campaigning for icecream instead of drinks at 20 overs.
Do you prefer club cricket, or county cricket? How come?
I don't think I can choose one that I prefer really, they both offer different things for me which I'm really lucky to have. County cricket provides that performance level aspect, being around experienced coaches and players to bounce ideas off, and learn from. Having come through the age group system, I’ve known most of the girls I play with for a really long time. It’s great to play with your mates and challenge yourselves at that high level. On the other hand, I think club cricket offers me a wider scope to my cricket, I can give time to areas of my game that I don’t have as much of an opportunity to work on at county. There’s not the same pressure to perform which gives me a chance to try different things and skills, and face different batters and bowlers. I’ve found the club to be a really positive environment, helping people develop their cricket, supporting each other and you’re all there because you want to be. So I don’t think I can choose one over the other really.
She had the bowler's grip right from an early age. Dunno about the massive ear though.
What do you reckon the quality of the competition will be like in the new league the SM Women’s 1s got into?
It will be a higher level of competition this summer of course, but with that, I’m really excited to see what that extra bit of challenge can give us as a team. I think it'll be a great opportunity to develop as a squad, rise to the challenge, get some good performances in and ultimately win the league first try. Done! We’ve got some great talent in our side, competitive spirit and someone always rises to the occasion, so I’m excited to see what we bring to the league and watch some banging performances this summer!
Match day, what’s your pre game ritual? Please don’t tell me it’s a bowl of acai while listening to some light pop music after morning yoga. You professional cricketers surely must have some bad habits!
The key for me on match day is a good playlist. It’s an absolute essential. I’ll be singing along to whatever's come out of the speakers in the warm up for the rest of the day, so for everyone’s sake, it needs to bring the vibes. For the record, Justin Bieber’s new album Justice has some bangers on there for the 2021 season. Music aside, the other essentials are 1000% Drumstick Squishes and Percy Pig fizzy tails (other sweets are available). Smuggle them in your pocket onto the outfield, or just smash through them whilst the opening batters are out facing some first innings bouncers. It’s win/win. (I didn't expect a bad habit as bad as Justin Bieber. FFS, that is lose/lose!)
Brutalism at its finest.
I’ve seen you down the club in your Thrasher hoodie – you are a skater right? What do you skate – street? Vert? What’s your set up? Back in the day mine was an Alva deck, gullwing trucks and bullet wheels with skf bearings. Do you have a go with the skaters across the road?
Yeaaah, I’ve been skating almost as long as I've been playing cricket. I much prefer street skating to ramp skating, I don't think you’d ever catch me dropping in on a vert ramp - maybe I’ll save that for my 80th Birthday or something - shred or dead hahaha! Yeah, across the road is a really good vibe; everyone’s really friendly- a real grassroots community; it’s great! The park is seriously gnarly though thanks to it’s DIY nature, it’s defo not an easy place to skate. It’s seriously unreal what tricks some of those guys are pulling out considering the crustiness of some of their creations!!
|
