Teen star Phoebe Litchfield not expecting to walk into Rachael Haynes’ Australian spot

She’s long worn the tag of Australian women’s cricket’s next big thing but Phoebe Litchfield won’t try to fill the shoes of retiring superstar Rachael Haynes.

TEEN phenom Phoebe Litchfield says she has no expectation of stepping into the massive shoes of retired star Rachael Haynes despite being a “like for like” replacement for the batting superstar.

Haynes called time on her decorated 13-year international career in September shortly after helping Australia to a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games.

Despite being just 19, as a versatile batter and, like Haynes, a left-hander, Litchfield is almost a mirror image of the former Aussie vice-captain and has long been groomed for a place in the national team.

But the young gun is keen not to pile pressure on herself in what is her first senior Australian team.

Phoebe Litchfield playing the Bushfire Bash alongside Ricky Ponting and Brian Lara. Photo: Supplied

“I’m like-for-like (for) Rach, a top-order/middle-order batter and lefty and a fielder, so I guess that’s the spot that’s free in the Aussie set-up,” Litchfield said.

“But I’m not looking for anything at the moment and just relishing the time in the group and learning everything I can.

“(My role) will depend on the squad set-up.

“I’ve been told middle order and then just roaming the boundary, roaming the field and trying to stop as many runs as I can, so I’m really excited if that happens but I’m not expecting too much.”

Litchfield and former Irish international Kim Garth were added to the Australian squad for the India tour and Melbourne Stars all-rounder Garth could have the inside running to replace Haynes, with Commonwealth Games sensation Grace Harris also likely to be given a chance.

After bursting on to the scene as a prodigious 16-year-old, big things have long been expected of Litchfield, who underlined that potential by finishing as the top run-scorer after being called up for Australia A in their three-match series against England A earlier this year.

Rachel Haynes of Australia batting during the first match of the Women's Twenty20 (T20) Series between Australia and New Zealand. Picture: AAP

There’s a degree of pressure that comes along with that though.

“I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t cross my mind,” Litchfield said.

“The pressure of scoring runs always plays on your mind. Especially as a young player, with the media going, ‘you’re the next big thing’, I hope I don’t go nowhere.

“So it’s been on my mind but as soon as I hop on the field it sort of disappears, which is nice and I just focus on scoring runs and actually having fun.

“Getting around the group and watching players like Rach Haynes, Alyssa Healy play and try to mirror my game off them and try and have fun.”

Haynes is among the players Litchfield turned to after being selected for the tour of India,

picking her brain about handling the conditions on the subcontinent.

Litchfield in action for the Sydney Thunder. Photo by Phil Hillyard

“Rach definitely just said enjoy the experience. But in terms of preparing for the tour, I’ve spoken to the coaches and ex players on how they’ve gone about it and it’s just about adapting really quickly and then changing your game – not too much but you definitely have to change your game on these wickets,” she said.

In the T20 series, Litchfield may only have limited opportunities to impress. But in a sign of her ever-maturing game – she says her temperament has improved from the “silly 16-year-old” who debuted in the WBBL three years ago – she’s adamant it’s about what’s best for the team that matters.

“I guess T20’s a cutthroat game, you can face 50 balls or 10 balls, it just depends on the game and for me, it’s just doing what the team needs, going in there – especially in this set-up, I’m not really worried about how it goes,” she said.

“I’m just here to learn and if I do get an opportunity it’s going out there and doing what the team needs and really relishing the opportunity.”

Originally published as Teen star Phoebe Litchfield not expecting to walk into Rachael Haynes’ Australian spot