T20 mums Sarah Elliott and Kelly Applebee chasing glory in Women’s Big Bash League

SARAH Elliott and Kelly Applebee didn’t think they’d see a beast like the Women’s Big Bash League in their cricketing lifetime.

Womens Big Bash cricket, Melbourne. 2nd December 2015. Picture: Colleen Petch

SARAH Elliott and Kelly Applebee didn’t think they’d see a beast like the Women’s Big Bash League in their cricketing lifetime.

They are the elders of the world-first women’s T20 league — both 33-year-old mothers who have been playing at the elite level for 15 years.

Melbourne Renegades captain Elliott made international headlines in 2013 when she made her maiden Test century against England after a sleepless night attending to her then nine-month-old son Sam.

She batted for five hours and was expressing milk during the lunch break, a lasting memory the weary hero breastfeeding in her whites on the hill at Wormsley after play.

The qualified physiotherapist welcomed second son Jacob at the end of March this year and was determined to return to the field to take part in the WBBL.

“It’s good to be a positive role model for my two boys, being back out there and being fit and actually it’s good motivation because I get to play in this awesome tournament and play a game I really love,” Elliott, an opening bat and off-spin bowler, said.

“It was pretty tough early on ... I’m definitely not at my peak fitness but I’ve had to prioritise skills and fielding.

“I know that I’ve got reduced amount of time training wise, I sat down early on with coaching staff and (husband) Rob and just said OK, if I’m going to play what do I need to be doing? I need to be making runs, I need to be taking wickets or containing and I need to be able to field, that was my real focus.”

Applebee, a former Victorian captain, has a five-month-old daughter Ella with partner Emma, who carried their child.

She works fulltime at the AFL Players’ Association as a diversity manager as well as playing cricket for Victoria and now Melbourne Stars.

“Being able to fit time in with Ella has been a lot more challenging than what I first thought it would be,” Applebee, a middle-order batter, said.

“You’re leaving home at 7.30 and if I’ve got training of a night time, I don’t get home until about 9 o’clock.

“The time for me in the morning, which is usually only about half an hour, is critical.

“In the lead up to the Big Bash rather than me going in for a 6.30am gym session, the strength and conditioning coach is coming to my work during lunch time.”

Applebee said flexibility was the key.

“As we go along we’ll definitely see more people in this situation,” she said.

“Whether it’s like Sarah who’s actually having the baby and then trying to return to cricket or whether it’s someone like myself who’s still having sleepless nights and all those types of things supporting Emma and the baby.

Players in the WBBL will earn between $3000 and $10,000 for the two-month tournament. Applebee says players believe it is the start of something big.

“I have had a few thoughts that it’s come at the wrong end of my career, but it’s such an exciting opportunity for young girls to be playing in the game at the moment,” Applebee said.

“Hopefully in years to come (there’s) an opportunity for them to become professional athletes.”

The WBBL starts on Saturday with Melbourne Stars taking on Brisbane Heat in back-to-back games at the Junction Oval. The Renegades play their first match on Friday, December 11 against Hobart Hurricanes in Tasmania.

Originally published as T20 mums Sarah Elliott and Kelly Applebee chasing glory in Women’s Big Bash League