The 14 Years and Under ACT Meteors Girl’s side was runner up in the Championship to a very strong Victorian team.

Meg and Mikaylah are also members of Goulburn’s Coolavin Cowgirls that play both in the ACT Friday night summer outdoor cricket girls competition.

Both girls have only taken up indoor cricket this year and have been coached by Claire Koski who played for the Sydney Thunder and has recently re-signed with the ACT Meteors. 

They have also received coaching locally from Garry Mortimer.

Meg who is now in Year 8 at Goulburn high, had some exposure to indoor cricket before this year , having filled in for her father’s team in the local competition.

Both girls were to make their mark as stand out players in the ACT side over the weekend.

After sending the ACT into bat first Victoria kept the ACT to a low run score which any team would have found difficult to defend.

Though the ACT side were unable to defend their score, Mikaylah bowled well for the girls, picking up two wickets while maintaining a low run economy.

In the round games the girls had performed well with the bat with Mikaylah, who was one of the youngest in the team, posting top scores or near top scores in two of their games.

Still only in Year 6 at Wollondilly Public she will be eligible for the ACT 14 Years and Under side next year while Meg is aiming to be a member of the Under 17 Girls Team.

As a result of their outstanding performance both Goulburn girls have been selected in the ACT Southern Zone Academy.

Meg also earned selection in the eight member Australian All Star 14 years and Under Girls Indoor team along with the ACT team captain Caitlin Galeano.

The news of Garry Mortimer’s closing of the Goulburn Indoor Cricket Centre was disappointing to Meg and Mikaylah, who had enjoyed and benefited from his coaching, but they said they understood his position and hoped he would find some way of continuing to provide encouragement to young cricket players like themselves.

“ We wish Mr Mortimer the best and thank him for his help,” Meg said.

“Our parents have been great too, in encouraging us,” Makaylah said.

“They drive us to and from Canberra and other places about three times a week to play and train.

It is a family commitment and we are grateful they support us so much.”

Following the Australian Championships Indoor Cricket Manager Cameron Walter paid tribute to the girl’s coaching staff.

“We were fortunate at this tournament to have Meteor Claire Koski on board as head coach of both female teams, assisted by her Meteors teammate Nicole Goodwin,” Walter said.

“While Koski’s indoor cricket background proved invaluable, her determination to prepare our young female talents for higher honours in all forms of cricket truly places indoor cricket on the pathway, and reinforces indoor cricket’s place as an ideal entry point for competitive cricket for young female athletes.

“We saw a number of players new to all forms of cricket participate in our female indoor teams, and I’ve little doubt they will continue their cricketing journey having begun it here at this tournament.

“That, and the appearance of the 14 and Under side in the grand final, suggests a bright future for female cricket in the ACT region.”

Cricket ACT Developement Manager Nicola Brown said that opportunities are available within the Canberra region and wider Goulburn district for girls aged 9-13 years interested in both indoor and outdoor cricket.

These opportunities are through the “Growing Cricket for Girls Fund” and anyone interested should contact her at Cricket ACT.