Lee backing Hundred to get bigger and better
MANCHESTER Originals’ Lizelle Lee believes The Hundred is only getting ‘bigger’ and ‘better.’
The opener made history as she faced the first delivery in The Hundred last year, clashing with her former South African team-mate Marizanne Kapp of the Oval Invincibles.
But the 30-year-old right-hander is aiming for more batting success after ending the 2021 edition with 215 runs at an average of 43.00.
“Without a doubt, last year was spectacular, it was great fun and a great tournament,” Lee said ahead of the start of the Originals’ campaign against Trent Rockets at Emirates Old Trafford tomorrow.
“I do think this year is going to be even better and I’m really looking forward to seeing what’s going to happen.
“I wish it could have gone a bit better for us, but I think as a team, we did well. We started off badly and then we got better as the tournament went on.
“I am really hoping to make more runs this year. I want to contribute batting, fielding, or really helping our team make it to Finals Day this year.
“Because I really think we have a good team, so I’m hoping I can contribute more to the team and ultimately get us to that Finals Day.”
Lee, who recently retired from all forms of international cricket, will now hope to pass on her love of the sport to her son Wihan who was born in February just before the Women’s Cricket World Cup, where Lee and South Africa reached the semi-finals.
“My dad and my brother played cricket and I think if you’ve asked a lot of South Africans, it’s probably started the same way, we started playing in the backyard,” she said.
“And we did and the love for cricket just grew from that.
“Since that little guy was born, I think everything changed, literally everything.
“It’s been a roller coaster, some ups and downs but I think it’s actually just giving me some bit of a more enjoyment factor in my cricket.
“And it is something I want to do, and I want to make him and my family very proud.
“It would be, I think, one of the greatest honours one day for my boy to say my mother plays cricket and my wife Tanja also plays, it would be great to see.
“And I’m just waiting for the moment. Obviously, he can’t even talk, even though he screams so much but I’m very looking forward to that and hopefully he can be proud of me and his mother one day.”
KP Snacks, Official Team Partner of The Hundred, are touring the country this summer to offer more opportunities for people to play cricket as part of their ‘Everyone In’ campaign. Visit everyonein. co.uk/about