She started playing cricket as an eight-year-old and Bonnie Berry continues to blaze a trail in the sport

‘Pretty exciting’: Central Queensland teen is ready to make her mark on the national stage as she continues impressive march up the ranks.

Carmel Berry had to sign a waiver to allow her daughter Bonnie to start playing cricket at age eight in the Central Highlands Cricket under-11 competition.

“Her brother Adam wanted to play and the first year he signed up, the club was really short on numbers,” she explains.

“I had to sign a waiver (for Bonnie) because I think at that stage you had to be nine to be able to play.

“That’s where it started and it’s just continued on from there.”

Bonnie’s career has continued on an upward trajectory since that first year playing alongside her brother with the boys.

Now 15, the Marist College Emerald student has just been named in the Queensland Country women’s team to play at the national championships in Albury in April.

The down-to-earth teenager said it “felt good and it was pretty exciting” to receive the email which delivered news of her selection.

Bonnie caught the selectors’ eye with a strong showing for North Queensland in the annual three-game series against South Queensland.

The right-arm fast bowler was a model of consistency, finishing with figures of 3/20, 2/20 and 2/27.

Bonnie said she was looking forward to her Queensland Country duties, and would head into the carnival keen to compete against some really good players and to learn as much as she could.

Bonnie continues to play her club cricket with Emerald Brothers, and this year is one of three girls taking the field in the Stage 3 competition (which is equivalent to under-16).

Bonnie Berry, pictured with Bruce Deem from Queensland Cricket, after her inclusion in Queensland Cricket's 2019-20 Youth Pathway Academy squads.

She thrived on the challenge of taking on the opposition batters and believes that playing with and against the boys had helped strengthen her game.

Bonnie said it was encouraging that athletes could enjoy success regardless of where they lived, and she was grateful for the input she had had from all of her coaches along the way.

Her current club coach Chris Mccullagh said it was great to see Bonnie turning heads at the senior level.

“She’s very athletic, tall, strong and fast,” he said.

“She’s got a good physique for bowling fast, and that natural cricket talent and athletic ability is there.

“She has a fantastic work ethic, she’s willing to listen and she just loves her cricket.

Bonnie Berry ready to go out and bat at the state championships in 2017.

“Fast bowling is a hard job, and you’ve got to put in those extras to make the most of it.

“Bonnie’s very determined and she’s always willing to put in the hard work to get to the next level.”

Mccullagh is confident his young charge will do herself and her region proud at the national championships.

“Bonnie’s pretty level headed and she doesn’t get overawed,” he said.

“She will take it in her stride and do well there.

“I’m sure she won’t disappoint anyone.”

Mccullagh said that Bonnie had also caught the attention of and been invited to play for some Brisbane-based women’s clubs.

“It’s great to know that there are pathways for girls playing cricket now,” he said.

“Some people say you might be limited in what you can achieve being out here but it hasn’t held Bonnie back.”