Bumper year has Rachael ready for more

SYDNEY Thunder vicecaptain Rachael Haynes is looking forward to taking some time over Christmas when the side has a week off to reflect on what’s been an incredible 2017.

What started with a recall to the Australian team in February after a three-year absence from international selection, has since added a World Cup campaign, captaining the nation to retain the Ashes and a bumper start to her WBBL campaign.

Haynes says her year has been “go, go, go” but when pressed for what’s working in her game, she puts it down to being able to deliver regularly.

“It’s probably the most consistent I’ve been if I’m honest,” Haynes said.

“I think I’ve definitely gone through times in my career where I’ve been playing some good cricket but perhaps haven’t been consistent in how I’m scoring runs and how often.

“But I think that’s probably the biggest thing this year is that I’ve been scoring or making contributions to the team pretty consistently.” That she has. Haynes has racked up two half centuries from three matches this WBBL season and from her nine international innings with the bat she’s returned an 89 not out in an Ashes one-dayer, a 50 in her recall ODI and two scores of 30-plus. She also made a 103 not out in NSW’s opening WNCL win over Queensland.

“The biggest thing that I’ve been working on as a player is just my mindset,” Haynes said.