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Sydney Sixers rookie wins coveted UNSW sports scholarship

Sydney Sixers rookie Carly Leeson is set to study, live and play cricket at University of NSW after being awarded the prestigious Ben Lexcen Sports Scholarship.

Sydney Sixers Big Bash rookie Carly Leeson has received the prestigious Ben Lexcen Sporting Scholarship at UNSW, where she’ll study environmental science. Picture: Danny Aarons.
Sydney Sixers Big Bash rookie Carly Leeson has received the prestigious Ben Lexcen Sporting Scholarship at UNSW, where she’ll study environmental science. Picture: Danny Aarons.

2017 is shaping up to be a huge year for Sydney Sixers WBBL rookie Carly Leeson.

The 17-year-old is preparing to study, live and play cricket at University of NSW after being awarded the prestigious Ben Lexcen Sports Scholarship.

“I had to apply a few months ago so there was definitely a bit of nervous tension waiting to see if I would get it or not — I’m really grateful that it turned out that I did,” Leeson said.

Hailing from Woodford Island near Grafton on the NSW north coast, Leeson’s first taste for the game came playing on the sidelines while watching her dad at his local matches.

“I started playing in an under-10s Milo cricket competition, then I progressed up through the age groups playing state as well,” she said.

“I think some good performances in the NSW under 12s through to 18s now was what got me selected for my first year in the WBBL.”

Sydney Thunder player Alex Blackwell is a former Ben Lexcen Scholar. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images.
Sydney Thunder player Alex Blackwell is a former Ben Lexcen Scholar. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images.

Leeson joined the Sixers as the team’s youngest player. She was named NSW female Country Cricketer of the Year the past two years and is also part of the NSW Women’s High Performance Academy.

While she is yet to play a match, Leeson viewed her first season with the team more as a learning experience than being about getting on the field.

“It’s about looking to prepare me for the future, and it’s been a great opportunity training with high-level players like Ellyse Perry and Alyssa Healy, I’ve learnt a lot so far.

As a Ben Lexcen Scholar, Carly follows in the footsteps of well-known Australian female cricketers Alex Blackwell and Sara Hungerford who studied medicine at the Kensington campus.

“Any female cricketer who has followed the same path that I am looking to follow is an inspiration to me — someone to look up to and get advice from,” Carly said.

“I’m going to study Environmental Science — growing up on a farm I had always loved animals, and I was interested in policing, so this degree combines both.”

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/southern-courier/sport/sydney-sixers-rookie-wins-coveted-unsw-sports-scholarship/news-story/44aa0a17364d175eef3a6e5d65108f19