Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander T20 Cup shines light on rising stars
Julie Muir has mentored and played alongside some of world cricket’s biggest names and rising stars and said there’s plenty more coming through the ranks.
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Julie Muir (Wiradjuri) is a self-described “nana of cricket” taking great pride in still playing the game at 44 alongside the best indigenous talent in the state.
Muir has mentored and played alongside some of world cricket’s biggest names and rising stars and said there’s plenty more coming through the ranks.
This week she will be back in charge again at the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander T20 Cup at Campbelltown which gets underway on Thursday and is being held during NAIDOC Week.
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Several stars of the game got their chance to impress in the event in the past and Muir was right there with them.
Muir, the captain of the Thunder side at the event at Raby Park, has played alongside the likes of Australian star Ash Gardner and WBBL gun’s Hannah Darlington (Kamilaroi) and Anika Learoyd (Gumbaynggirr) in past events.
“ I’ve been fortunate enough to have captained Hannah, Ashleigh and Anika as young ones,” said Muir, who has lead the NSW women’s indigenous team to 13 titles at the national indigenous championships in the past.
“You could see Ash was going to be talent at 14. She had so much talent and worked so hard,” said Muir, who grew up in Campbelltown and played regularly at Raby Park.
“I’m so proud of her with what she is doing on and off the cricket pitch.
“She was very cheeky. She was good, always good to have around, always made us laugh. She always took in the advice we gave her.
“Hannah, she could hit the ball hard and has one of the best corkers in the game. She was about 16 when she played with us.”
Darlington, from Erskine Park, represented her culture in the Thunder Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander team on a number of occasions.
“I’ve got to go to Hobart and play in a tournament in Sydney,’’ she said.
“It was one of the highlights of the year to represent my mob alongside some of my best mates and met some amazing people.’’
Learoyd, from Coffs Harbour, played in the team for two years.
“It was an unreal experience and one I look forward to every year and the amount I learned in those days was absolutely incredible” she said.
Muir said the team provides “a support group for the future” for young cricketers.
“Most of us stay in touch and connected. We are really like family,” she said.
She said the game are also an opportunity for young players to show their ways to various team selectors and has nominated young Tamworth cricketer Lara Graham as one to watch.
”She’s a young fast bowler. I saw her bowl for the first time last year. She’s a kid that’s come through the program and looks to have a big future,” Muir said
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Originally published as Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander T20 Cup shines light on rising stars