Sianna now old hand

THERE was a moment in last year’s under-15 Australian cricket championships when Sianna Ginger sensed an opportunity.

A win in their final game and a finals berth was theirs. Unfortunately it was not to be, but that loss has fuelled the 15year-old to up the ante at the 2020 competition.

Sianna will return to the Queensland under-15 side to contest for the national title in Canberra.

As one of the older members of the team, she hopes her past experience will help set the standard for a victorious campaign.

“It was a really good carnival last year, I was one of the younger ones in the team and I learnt from older ones so hopefully I can help out some of the younger players this year,” Sianna said.

“I feel like I understand my game a lot better, if I play a bad shot I know what I did wrong and I can fix that now.

“It has been a lot better for me playing against a lot of taller girls, stronger girls and girls who are a lot quicker. Hopefully it will help me find it easier playing against girls my age.”

Sianna’s performances at last year’s national titles earned her a spot in Cricket Australia’s under-16 training program – a place she aims to claim again in 2020.

Since then she has not let up, featuring in an under 18s carnival, women’s representative programs and under-19 invitational set ups in what has been a hectic season.

Queensland Cricket regional coaching director Tony Hampson said he had seen Sianna grow stronger in the year between competitions and her awareness of the game had improved drastically.

“I expect her to be one of the leaders in the group both on the field and off the field with her performances and leadership,” Hampson said.

“I’m sure there’s always expectations from everyone, especially in her second year at that level.

“The quality of girls’ cricket at the moment is rapidly improving, so she’ll be up against very good players from right across Australia that are all batting and bowling to a higher standard than they probably were a few years ago.

“If she applies herself like she has with training it will definitely go a long way to having a successful carnival.”

The national titles begin tomorrow.