Bouncers and sledges: The day a 14-year-old future female cricket star took on the men and won

To understand how Sydney Thunder’s Phoebe Litchfield burst onto the scene as one of Australian cricket’s rising stars, you have to go back to a hot January day in 2018 when a bouncer whizzed past the 14-year-old’s ear.

Word had spread through Orange, in central-west NSW, that Litchfield was set to make her first grade debut in the local competition at the tender age of 14 against the men.

The youngster rose to fame across the Australian cricketing scene after a video of her in the nets at 16 went viral online. Credit: Getty

Litchfield, a key member of the Sydney Thunder team that begins its Women’s Big Bash League campaign next Saturday, was a student at Kinross Wolaroi School and had been working her way up through the junior ranks to second grade.

“I knew the Litchfields before Phoebe came along,” recalled Ed Morrish, the captain of Orange City that day. “I know they were a bit reluctant to play her in first grade to start off with, but they had to pick her because she was doing so well in second grade.”

Litchfield, now 18, was a technically sound left-hand batter and handy wicketkeeper with dreams of one day playing for NSW and Australia.

“I grew up playing against boys and I just kept going up the ranks, so it wasn’t too different – they were just bigger,” Litchfield said. “It helped my career a lot because it fast-tracked my ability to face fast bowling and adapt to that level.”

Phoebe Litchfield dispatches a delivery down the ground during last season’s WBBL.Credit: Getty

Morrish’s Orange City compiled 8-204 from their 50 overs that day before Kinross Wolaroi slumped to 7-140 in the run chase.

As Litchfield made her way to the crease at No.9, Morrish says there was a dilemma: to bounce her or not to bounce her?

“The first ball she faced was a bouncer,” Morrish said with a laugh. “I was captain at the time and I was going to say let’s not bounce her. I didn’t really want to do that myself. But, no, one of the older blokes in the team took it upon himself and bounced her first ball.

“She took it on but played and missed. She handled it well.”

Litchfield might have made just 16 runs that day, but the way she frustrated her opponents and the composure she displayed left no one in any doubt that she had a bright future.

“She is very smart cricket-wise, even at that young age,” said Morrish, who went wicketless that afternoon as the team’s opening bowler. “She realised she couldn’t hit the ball in front of the wicket playing against men, being a bit smaller, but she manipulated the ball very well. She played behind point very well with late cuts.

“She’s left-handed and I’m a left-arm bowler, so it was too easy for her. It frustrated me quite a bit. You could tell she was highly talented.”

The experience of playing against men helped prepare Litchfield for the rigours of professional women’s cricket. Less than two years later, she made her debut for the Thunder and has already been earmarked as a future Australia star, having already represented NSW.

“The first couple of times [in men’s first grade cricket] I was nervous and worried, but I think practice makes perfect,” she said. “It fast-tracked my ability to play in the pathway with girls at 15 because I’d already faced twice as fast bowling. Also fielding against a ball that had been hit harder, catching balls and being out in the field really helped.

“I was sledged a few times [by the men]. It was nothing malicious; they were all very respectful.”

Litchfield’s Sydney Thunder begin their WBBL campaign against the Adelaide Strikers on Thursday in Hobart.

“I’m hoping to have a solid season,” she said. “Hopefully I can score some runs consistently and solidify my spot in the top order.”

You can bet Litchfield’s old teammates and opponents from Orange will be watching with pride.

“It’s a massive achievement and what makes it even more special is the Litchfields are good people,” Morrish said. “There’s nothing but pride out here from the rest of us. It’s good to see someone make something of themselves and get out of the bush.”

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