Talented bowler’s setting a cracking pace

Backyard cricket has always been a part of Phoebe Smith’s life, but the tradition started long before the talented pace bowler was born.

Pace bowler Phoebe Smith. Picture: AAP Image/Renae Droop

BACKYARD cricket has always been a part of Phoebe Smith’s life, but the tradition started long before the talented pace bowler was born.

Her mother Sarah says it’s a family tradition, which goes back to when she and Phoebe’s dad, Neal were growing up.

“Neal and I have been friends since we were kids and our families would play against each other on Christmas Days – the Smiths versus the Richards (family),” Sarah says.

So, it continued when the pair had their own children, with Phoebe and older brother Fletcher regularly having a hit in the backyard.

Fletcher, 13, has been playing for the Redcliffe City Cyclones Junior Cricket Club for four years and dad Neal is the coach.

“Phoebe was sick of sitting there watching. I said to her, ‘why don’t you play?’,” Neal recalls.

This is the 11-year-old’s third season with the team, and she’s quite comfortable being the only girl and playing against boys 18 months to two years older.

“It’s good to challenge her, by playing against the boys. It’s always a bit sweeter if you get a wicket,” Neal says.

Phoebe Smith, Fletcher Smith and Ben Johnson loving playing cricket together. Picture: AAP Image/Renae Droop

Phoebe agrees and says she plays hard – due partly to playing against the older boys but also because it reflects her personality.

“It’s good having my brother in the team first of all. He’s my best friend,” she says.

In October, Phoebe played in her first all-girl team when she was selected for the 10-12 Years Sunshine Coast Region School Sport side, which competed at the state titles.

“It was better. There were no stinky boys,” she says laughing. “I had better chemistry and the girls were more relatable.”

The team came fourth in the competition. “I was the best bowler overall for the whole competition,” she says. “I took 12 wickets over the four days.”

As a result, she was named in the Queensland team, which competed at the nationals in Adelaide from November 17-24

Sarah says she and Neal are proud of what Phoebe has achieved – ticking off one of her goals in making the Sunshine Coast team and surprising herself with Queensland selection.

“I couldn’t believe it when they announced the team. There were over 120 girls and for her to be called out…,” Sarah says.

Phoebe Smith has big cricketing goals. Picture: AAP Image/Renae Droop

Another goal Phoebe has set herself is to be named her club team’s best bowler – an honour older brother Fletcher took out last year. The rivalry is good-natured and Phoebe doesn’t hesitate when asked who’s better.

“Probably Fletcher. Last season, he was good but this season, you never know Fletcher …,” she says with a grin.

Phoebe’s also looking ahead and says she’d love to one day play for Australia, just like her cricket heroes Ellyse Perry and Steve Smith.

She recently watched a Women’s Big Bash League game and later learned two of the players were just 16 years old.

“That’s just five years away,” she says.