Paris Bowdler debuts for Melbourne Renegades, relives interaction with Alyssa Healy

Rising Geelong cricketer Paris Bowdler made her debut for Melbourne Renegades on Sunday, but it was her pre-game interaction that was the ‘the highlight of my day’.

Geelong cricketer Paris Bowdler made her debut for Melbourne Renegades at the weekend.

RISING Geelong cricketer Paris Bowdler has confessed she was left “absolutely speechless” before her Melbourne Renegades debut at the weekend, after crossing paths with a childhood idol.

The wicket keeper was called up to play her first game with the Renegades after Josie Dooley was ruled out with injury, with the teenager making the trip from Geelong to Ballarat for the Sunday match.

Bowdler said she was inspecting the pitch before the game when Australian keeper Alyssa Healy wandered out and introduced herself.

“I wasn’t really talking or thinking straight, I think there was just a lot of mumbling when she started speaking to me,” she said.

Geelong cricketer Paris Bowdler made her debut for Melbourne Renegades at the weekend.

“I was going to ask her questions before and after the game, but I completely forgot when I was in the moment.

“It was awesome to meet her, I was in shock that I would be playing against a massive player like Alyssa Healy, maybe next time I’ll actually ask her questions.

“Just watching her bat, I got a pretty good view from behind the stumps, then watching her keep I was taking it all in and trying to learn as much as I could.

“It was the highlight of my day.”

Paris Bowdler made her debut for the Melbourne Renegades. Picture: Graham Denholm

Bowdler performed well with the gloves, letting just one bye through, before making an undefeated two with the bat at the end of the Renegades’ innings.

Melbourne ultimately lost to Sydney, but Bowdler said it was an “incredible experience” to make her debut.

“I’m still buzzing a bit, I initially thought the coaches were playing a prank on me when they asked me to join the squad in Ballarat,” she said.

“I tried to keep calm throughout the game, take my time a little bit and not be too jumpy, but I didn’t get many opportunities because the batters kept hitting the ball.

Paris Bowdler for the Melbourne Renegades. Picture: Graham Denholm

“I thought I did pretty well, it was just really good to be around it all and get a game.”

Renegades coach Simon Helmot said he was impressed with the debutant’s performance.

“I was really impressed with how composed she was,” he said.

“Only one ball got through her and it was a tough one that went over the stumps, I think she should be very pleased with her efforts behind the stumps.

“She showed already as a 17 year old that she has the composure and the match awareness to execute under pressure.

“The expectation is that Josie Dooley will come back into the side and Paris will step out, but she is a Renegade and whether she plays no more games, one more or six more this season, I think it’s very exciting for her future in cricket.”

Originally published as Paris Bowdler debuts for Melbourne Renegades, relives interaction with Alyssa Healy