Women’s cricket has recently grown exponentially in popularity, and its development became evident in Goulburn last week when two young ladies were selected for ACT/NSW Country.
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Mikaylah John (Under 15’s) and Isabella Greig (Under 18’s) were both named by Cricket NSW last Monday, and Goulburn District Junior Cricket Association President Rob Jolliffe said that he was ecstatic to hear the news.
“These two girls have represented Goulburn for a long period of time and continue to do great things not only for girls cricket, but for cricket generally,” Jolliffe said.
“They’re both very talented girls and it makes us all very proud to see them progressing through the ranks of cricket in the state.”
Isabella has previously played in the Under 15’s squad, and said that although she was excited to get another opportunity, this time around there were some nerves.
“I was very happy, that’s for sure, [and] pretty excited,” she said.
“Because last year I was in the Under 15’s squad, so I was a bit nervous as well because I knew what was involved.”
An allrounder who bowls pace and is a flexible batter, Isabella has been playing the game since she was in Year Five, and has developed her skills rapidly.
Mikaylah is also an allrounder, and her mother Trish said that her daughter’s selection was a welcome reward for the hours that she had been putting in.
“She’s been doing a lot of hard work at training and everything, so it was good to see her training had worked,” she said.
“It was good to see a lot of the other girls that she plays with had been selected as well.”
Despite Mikaylah’s hard work, selection for a state squad is never a sure thing, and Mrs John said that her daughter was thrilled at the call-up.
“She was very happy. She was surprised with the selection as always, but she was very happy,” Mrs John said.
Both girls will be playing alongside many of their former teammates, which will help to smooth the adjustment into the side.
“I do know a lot of the people that were selected, so I’m sure it’ll be all good in terms of getting to know people,” Isabella said.
“It does [help].”
The ACT/NSW Country teams will compete in the Female National Championships to be held during the 2018/19 season.
