BASHFUL THINKING
develop our Why the WBBL helps next Aussie champions
Cricket journeywoman Georgia Redmayne believes the strong international presence in the Women’s Big Bash League has pushed the growth of Australia’s domestic cricketers, and part of the reason why she’s now on the cusp of an international debut.
This year’s WBBL is again expected to feature the best names in international women’s cricket, with Indian stars tipped to join various franchises over the coming weeks after they complete their Test, ODI and T20 series against Australia in Queensland.
The ability for Australia’s young cricketers to play at the highest level through the WBBL tournament has had enormous benefits for the likes of Redmayne, who has traversed the country in search of playing opportunities and been exposed to some of the world’s best players.
The left-handed batting wicketkeeper grew up in northern NSW but struggled to break into a stacked NSW team. So she moved to Tasmania for a few years to work on her game. Last year she relocated again, this time to Queensland, where she’s playing for the state team in the WNCL.
She has played for three different WBBL teams - Hobart Hurricanes, Perth Scorchers and Brisbane Heat and in July headed to England to take up a spot with the Welsh Fire in the inaugural ECB quickfire tournament, The Hundred.
But all of that moving around has ultimately paid off for the 27-year-old doctor who says developing her game
The WBBL is the perfect teaser for international cricket
domestically has given her the chance of earning a coveted Aussie cap – and she credits the WBBL for much of her growth as a cricketer.
“The WBBL is the perfect teaser for international cricket … it does feel like a higher level of game and pressure you’re under, and for me, it’s helped me develop,” she said.
“Obviously I’ve moved around a little bit, but last year I found what really worked for me (at the Brisbane Heat), and the approach that I wanted to take in T20 cricket, and I think I’m really lucky that I’ve had some rewards from it and I’d love to test myself at that next level now.”
In WBBL06, Redmayne played all 14 matches for the Heat, finishing the tournament as the side’s leading runs scorer (357 runs, including 42 fours and six sixes) and behind the stumps had 11 catches and seven stumpings.
With WBBL07 looming, she said the T20 competition had been vital in the growth of the women’s game.
“It’s hugely important ... in terms of exposure and numbers of people playing, and then you’ve got a lot of young girls coming through and that is just deepening that domestic pool of talent. It’s been incredible from that sense,” she said.
“It’s also that exposure in playing against the best players in the world, not only the Australian players, but the international players that come in and play.
“You always feel like it really is a world-class competition, and you feel like you’re having to go out and play in high-pressure environments. You have bigger crowds than maybe you’re used to (at WNCL games), and having to make those high-pressure moment decisions, and learning how to win games and win championships too.
“So, I think the way that competition has evolved has really developed a whole range of players and a great depth of talent in Australian domestic cricket.”