Australia women’s Ashes stars as kids: Picture special

This is the photo which sums up the stunning rise of women’s cricket in Australia. We look back on our Ashes stars and their rise from the backyard to the big stage.

It’s the photo from more than a decade ago that encapsulates the incredible rise of the Australian women’s cricket team.

Shelley Nitschke, current Australian head coach with more than 100 international caps to her name, kneeling next to a budding young cricketer in Milo-branded apparel and pink sunglasses.

The young girl turned out to be Darcie Brown, the 21-year-old fast bowler who has played for her country nearly 60 times and is now coached by Nitschke.

Not even 10 years separates their careers, but the picture allows Nitschke to reflect on the rapid growth of women’s cricket in this country.

“Yeah, it’s pretty cool,” Nitschke said. “Darce is someone we’ve always had our eye on, but I never linked her to that little girl I had a photo with.

“It’s nice seeing kids come though a pathway, that they can come through and be comfortable and perform at our level. To see someone like Darce come from the country to where she is now and have touchpoints throughout that journey, it’s great.”

CA Women: Darcie Brown

Coming through as a promising young athlete in the 2010s meant Brown idolised players like Nitschke, while also knowing a professional career in cricket could be an attainable goal. And although it started with a helping hand from her brothers in the backyard, she is now considered one of the quickest bowlers in the world.

“She’s always had the ability to bowl pretty quick,” Darcie’s father, Rod, said.

“It comes from mucking around with her older brothers in the backyard. They’re both keen cricketers and yeah, so she was pretty determined to try and knock their heads off.

“She was quite a bit younger than her brothers, so we used to make sure the boys gave her a couple of goes. She’d spit the chewie every now and then when the boys would get her out, she had a determined streak that’s for sure.

“Cricket sort of took off at the right time for her and she’s been very lucky to get a career out of it.”

It’s not just young Aussie backyard cricketers who have found their way into the national side. Bowling all-rounder Kim Garth has become of a fixture of the squad since relocating from Ireland and playing for her adopted country.

Since taking the 17,000-kilometre leap to try and become a professional cricketer, Garth has gone from growing up playing alongside the boys to appearing in front of thousands of fans as she represents one of the most successful teams in women’s sports.

Garth playing among the boys in Ireland. Picture: Supplied

The 28-year-old (R) has now become one of Australia’s best long-format bowlers. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“There would have been very few girls playing, so it was pretty much all boys,” Garth’s father, Jonathan, recalls. “My first memory is when she was an eight-year-old playing for the under 11s boys where she got a couple of wickets with this great big run-up.

“They also picked an Irish under-13 boys team which she was selected for – so she’s the first and only girl that’s played for that team.

“It was a fatherly thing because I was aware she was a girl playing among men who were bigger and stronger. But I just knew she was well able for it.

“She always wanted to be a professional cricketer, and that’s what brought her to Australia initially. I always thought she was good enough (to play for Australia). She’ll probably kill me for saying that, but I just thought she had the ability to do it.

“She rang us one morning at 3am, and when I saw Kim’s number we were concerned because she would know the time difference. She was crying and said, ‘I’ve been picked to go to India’.

“And 28 matches later, we still are just incredibly proud and over the moon.”

PICTURE SPECIAL: EVERY AUSSIE ASHES STAR — THEN AND NOW

— Emma Greenwood

They’re the best players in the world, but once upon a time every Australian women’s cricket star was just a kid in the backyard chasing the dream.

A picture special, looking back at how every member of Australia’s Ashes squad started their journey.

ALYSSA HEALY (NSW / Sydney Sixers / Sydney CC)

The captain has fully recovered from a knee injury that kept her out of most of the WBBL series and prevented her from wicketkeeping in the recent series against New Zealand and will wear the gloves again in her first home Ashes series in charge. With a highest Test score of 99 to her name, Healy will be out to secure an elusive century in her 10th career Test.

DARCIE BROWN (SA / Adelaide Strikers / Northern Districts CC)

Will be champing at the bit to play a role in the multi-format series after sitting on the bench for all three ODIs against India and playing a reduced role against New Zealand behind Megan Schutt and Kim Garth. Took five wickets in her last Test outing against South Africa last February, with her right-arm pace hard to handle when she’s on a roll.

ASHLEIGH GARDNER (NSW / Sydney Sixers / Bankstown CC)

Shapes as one of the most important players in the series and will play a key role with both bat and ball. Player of the match in the only Test last series, after taking 12 wickets in the match, including a game-winning 8-66 in the second innings, Gardner is one of the best players in the world in all formats and will be targeted by the visitors.

KIM GARTH (VIC / Melbourne Stars / Dandenong CC)

After making Test debut against England in the last Ashes series, the former Ireland representative has become a fixture in Aussie sides, with her right-arm pace bamboozling opposition batters. With Victorian quick Tayla Vlaeminck out injured, Garth will take on an even more important role in the series.

GRACE HARRIS (QLD / Brisbane Heat / Western Suburbs CC)

Harris will come into the series for the three T20 matches alone, with the Brisbane Heat all-rounder injecting trademark enthusiasm and spark as well as power batting and giving Healy another spin option with her right arm tweaks. A match-winner in her own right, Harris can bat anywhere in the order but is likely to give the Aussies a strong option down the order.

ALANA KING (WA / Perth Scorchers / Midland Guildford CC)

King earnt her first call-up to the Australian team ahead of the last Ashes series, playing in all three formats to seal her place as a key member of the side. The leggie has since played more than 50 internationals across both limited-over forms of the game, as well as four Tests.

PHOEBE LITCHFIELD (NSW / Sydney Thunder / Sydney University CC)

One of the best emerging leaders in women’s cricket, Litchfield became the youngest permanent captain of a WBBL team last October when she was named skipper of the Sydney Thunder last October. The aggressive left-hander is a prodigious stroke player capable of tearing the opposition apart and is set to give the Aussies a raring start at the top of the order.

TAHLIA MCGRATH (SA / Adelaide Strikers / Glenelg CC)

The vice-captain, who skippered Australia in the recent series against India, will be among the home side’s biggest weapons in the Ashes series, set to star with both bat and ball. While she’ll be keen to contribute in all facets, McGrath is still craving an international century in any international format and would love to tick that box against England.

BETH MOONEY (WA / Perth Scorchers / Sandgate-Redcliffe CC)

The world no.1 T20I batter is set to be a thorn in the side of the Poms again after playing a dominant role in the 2023 series. Will hand the gloves back to Alyssa Healy after ‘keeping in the Rose Bowl series against New Zealand but remains one of the most important and influential members of the Aussie team.

ELLYSE PERRY (VIC / Sydney Sixers / Dandenong CC)

Perry seemed on the cusp of oblivion in the shortest form of the game just a few years ago but has reinvented herself and remains one of the world’s best in all formats, as well as one of Australia’s most reliable in the big occasion. The Ashes have been Perry’s playground in the past and she has to be at the top of England’s hit list if they are to turn the tide and take the Ashes.

MEGAN SCHUTT (SA / Adelaide Strikers / Sturt CC)

The South Australian pocket rocket’s reputation as one of the best white-ball quicks in world cricket is well deserved and Schutt will be a key weapon for the Aussies, especially with Tayla Vlaeminck out injured. At 32, Schutt is closer to the end of her career than the start and with the next Ashes series not until 2027, this could be her last – and one in which she will want to cement her legacy.

ANNABEL SUTHERLAND (VIC / Melbourne Stars / Prahran CC)

Sutherland is arguably the form woman in an outstanding Aussie team at the moment, coming off back-to-back hundreds against India and New Zealand and a player of the series gong after starring with bat and ball against the Kiwis. England already knows how damaging she can be after she scored a century in the one-off Test during the last Ashes series and a Test double century against South Africa last year.

GEORGIA VOLL (QLD / Sydney Thunder / Sandgate-Redcliffe District CC)

Made the most of her call-up for the ODI series against India late last year to replace an injured Alyssa Healy by steering the team home in the opener before scoring a century in her second game. Classy emerging batter who is unfazed by the big occasion and will grab any chance she has throughout the series.

GEORGIA WAREHAM (VIC / Melbourne Renegades / Essendon Maribyrnong Park CC)

Could be called on to share more of the bowling load after Sophie Molineux was ruled out of the Ashes with a knee injury that required surgery, with leggie Wareham joining Ash Gardner and Alana King as the key tweakers in the squad. The 25-year-old’s improved batting – highlights include a maiden ODI 50 last year – make her a genuine all-rounder though and likely thorn in England’s side.

Originally published as Australia women’s Ashes stars as kids: Picture special