Renegade makes her mark with bat
JESS Duffin says sharing her focus between WBBL and AFLW has led to the form that saw her light up the opening day of the Women’s Big Bash League.
The 28-year-old is playing for WBBL side Melbourne Renegades and Collingwood in the AFLW.
She won player of the match after scoring 81 off 47 balls in the Renegades 11-run loss to Sydney Thunder on Saturday, with the Thunder scoring a record-beating 200.
Duffin hit 12 fours and one six during her innings and was quick between the wickets, attributing her AFLW career to her improved fitness.
“They train the house down pretty much at Collingwood, I’m sure like every other AFLW team,” Duffin said.
“I’m really enjoying not focusing too much on one sport, I can sort of focus on both and I think that’s really helped.”
The former Southern Star, who won the Belinda Clark award for the best female player in the country in 2013, could well be wearing national colours again after her brilliant innings.
“I haven’t really thought about it (playing for Australia again),” Duffin said.
“I need to be pretty consistent to get into that team, as you can see they’re pretty strong anyway at the moment so I’d probably have to be making 80 every game.
“Until I do that, I probably won’t think about it.”
Duffin lost her wicket on Saturday in controversial circumstances when she was caught and given out only after a video review.
The vision appeared to show the ball hit the ground while also being grasped by Thunder fielder Lisa Griffith.
Duffin, nee Cameron, crossed from the Stars to the Renegades for this season
“I’m feeling pretty good at the moment, it’s only one game, I’ve got to make sure I do it for the rest of the tourna-
I’M REALLY ENJOYING NOT FOCUSING TOO MUCH ON ONE SPORT, I CAN SORT OF FOCUS ON BOTH AND I THINK THAT’S REALLY HELPED
Nicola Carey of the Thunder. ment,” Duffin said. “I think having Coyley (Renegades coach Tim Coyle) and changing over to the Renegades I just feel there’s a little bit more of a relaxed vibe.”
Duffin had shoulder surgery following the AFLW season.
“I’m feeling pretty confident with it so if I need to throw I can throw,” Duffin said.
The Thunder’s Rachael Haynes blasted 55 off 41 deliveries for the home team, with Naomi Stalenberg (38 off 25) Nicola Carey (47 off 17) and Rene Farrell (25 off 13) helping Sydney recover from just 4-41 at one stage. Chamari Atapautu, 42 off 30 balls, was impressive for the Renegades.
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CROSS-CODE STAR: Jess Duffin of the Renegades (who also plays AFLW for Collingwood) bats during the WBBL match against the Sydney Thunder at North Sydney Oval. ENGLAND allrounder Ben Stokes’ search for rehabilitation in New Zealand encountered another roadblock yesterday when he was run out for a one-ball duck in his latest innings for Canterbury province at Christchurch.
Stokes (pictured) is playing for the province of his birth in New Zealand’s one-day competition while he waits for prosecutors in England to decide if he will be charged for his role in a brawl outside a nightclub in September. The 27year-old New Zealand-born allrounder is suspended from the England team while the investigation continues.
By playing for Canterbury, outside the scope of his suspension, he has a chance to find form in case he is recalled by England for the current Ashes test series in Australia. That could happen as early as next week’s third test.
Stokes has been named in England’s one-day team to play in Australia next month but that depends on any decision made by police and England’s Crown Prosecution Service.
Yesterday’s match was Stokes’ third for Canterbury.
He made two runs and took no wickets in his first match and scored 34, took a catch but no wickets in his second match.
Yesterday he claimed his first wicket in 24 overs for Canterbury, catching former NZ one-day player Anton Devcich from his own bowling. Devcich top-scored with 59 in Northern’s total of 274 and Stokes finished with 1-56 from 10 overs.
He had faced one ball when he was run out. Opener Michael Pollard hit a lofted shot to mid-on, Stokes watched the ball rather than his partner and was run out by a direct hit from the field by Brett Randell. Northern Districts won by 43 runs.