Eighteen year-old Australian cricketer Holly Ferling is happy to take the reigns and help usher in a whole new level of excitement and professionalism in the women’s ranks over coming seasons.
A recently announced Women’s Big Bash format unveiled by Cricket Australia (CA) for the 2015-16 season, provides added impetus to the recruitment of young female players, something Ferling is already playing an active role in as a Milo Cricket Ambassador.
The young pup of the T20 World Cup winning Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars has been rewarded with a CA contract for next season and sees a very bright future for the game.
“To have won the ICC T20 World Cup for the third time in a row in Bangladesh was history making for women’s cricket and really put us on the map so far as mainstream sport is concerned in Australia,” confirmed Ferling.
“Everyone in the team has been joking how I’ve come into the squad at such a great time and there’s certainly been a snowball effect so far as acknowledgement of women’s cricket here in Australia.
“The Women’s Big Bash will be a massive injection for the domestic competition and already we’re seeing a lot more 10 year-old girls taking up cricket, so I’m sure this positive momentum will continue and I’m happy to maintain an active role in promoting the game with Milo Cricket.”
There’ll be little rest for the Southern Stars as they shape up for T20 and one day competition, hosting Pakistan in August, before welcoming the West Indies in November.
The Queensland Fire will also be out to defend their inaugural national T20 title, with off-season training coinciding with another huge occasion for Ferling.
“My first university exams begin around the same time. I’ve now almost fully caught up with my assessment and will have a chance to do some study while reflecting on what’s been a massive eight months of cricket,” added Ferling.
“Personally it’s been a roller coaster of ups and downs; after the disappointment of losing the Ashes to England we then fought back to claim the bulk of victories across the limited overs format.
“On the domestic front we became the first Queensland team to claim some silverware, so that was a very surreal feeling and then we were able to claim the Wold Cup with the Aussie girls.
“When I got home I was also involved with two club finals so it’s really been one of the more successful summers to date, a totally unforgettable experience and something I want to continue for many more years to come for club, state and country.”
