‘I wasn’t expecting it’
Mikaela gets White Ferns call-up in ‘dream come true’
A dream came true for former Waiopehu College student Mikaela Greig with a call up to the White Ferns squad for an international T20I match against England at University of Otago Oval earlier this week.
Greig, who grew up on a diet of senior men’s club cricket in Horowhenua-Kapiti in the absence of a girls’ grade, had always harboured dreams of one day representing her country’s national cricket team.
Ironically, the call up from White Ferns coach Ben Sawyer came after she had all but given up hope of achieving the goal.
“It was a huge surprise. I wasn’t expecting it. It was something I had always dreamed of but at 28-yearsold I thought that chapter may have passed for me and I had come to terms with that,” she said.
“It’s funny because in some ways it had really taken the pressure off and I’m just really enjoying my cricket. You never know how much longer you’ve got in the game.”
White Ferns head coach Ben Sawyer said Greig fully deserved the opportunity on the back of impressive domestic form this season.
“Mikaela has been impressive for the Central Hinds all summer...she’s shown this season that she possesses power and hitting ability which are important qualities in T20 cricket,” he said.
Greig, who now lives in Shannon, started playing cricket at Levin Intermediate School as an 11-year-old and has simply never stopped. She played senior men’s club cricket in Horowhenua-Kapiti in the absence of a girls grade.
Her mother Alison said her daughter simply took to cricket. Looking back, she wasn’t sure where it came from, but the family encouraged her to keep following what was clearly a passion.
“She took it all on her own, really.
We’re all so proud of her,” she said. A large contingent of family travelled to Dunedin for the match.
Studying at Massey University in Palmerston North in her teens gave Greig an opportunity to join the women’s scene in Manawatu¯ and she thrived in an encouraging environment.
Greig had been a mainstain of the Central Hinds team for more than a decade now and had posted a career best 84 not out for Manawatu¯ and a quickfire 40 of 33 balls in North Island versus South Island T20 match a a few weeks ago and was fresh from playing for NZ A.
England ended up beating the White Ferns in Dunedin, the first of a fivematch T20 series, scoring 160/4 with the White Ferns 133/5 in reply.
Despite wanting to make the most of her opportunity, cricket can be a fickle game. Greig suffered the misfortune of being run out late in the innings after just facing one ball.
She had been around long enough to know that it’s all part and parcel of T20 cricket.
“It’s all part of the game and the situation we were in,” she said.
Having the experience and a taste of international cricket had left her wanting more, though. She is now a dual international, having previousley represented The Netherlands.
Greig signed the team flag as player number 206 during a capping ceremony with the team in what was a special moment.
“It’s a great environment,” she said. Greig has rejoined the NZ A team for the series against England A, with the experienced pairing of Sophie Devine and Melie Kerr returning to the White Ferns ahead of the T20I against England at Saxton Oval today.
Off the field, new horizons were opening for Greig, too. She and partner and shearer Bradman Franks has recently bought a farm, and she had taken on a new job with Beef and Lamb New Zealand.
“We’re both working full-time to pay the bills but Bradman is so supportive of me and wants me to keep playing,” she said.
Greig said she was enjoying playing under Hinds coach and former Black Cap Jacob Oram, who she said had taken her game and the team to another level and felt she was fitter than she had ever been.
“I suppose I’m really pushing my body now and not afraid of injury because you don’t know which season could be your last,” she said.
Greig was a popular figure having served stints in development roles with both Horowhenua-Ka¯piti and Manawatu¯ associations and had done a lot for the growth of the game.