Saskia Horley finds new cricket form after NSW Breakers, Sydney Thunder dumping

Late night shifts at an RSL club followed by long days at work have helped pave the way for this former teen star’s return to cricket form.

Saskia Horley who played men's NSW Premier Cricket with Manly.

All-rounder Saskia Horley was a golden child of cricket.

A young gun on the rise who made the NSW Breakers and Sydney Thunder WBBL team before she was out of her teens.

Then life changed for the Frenchs Forest cricketer touted for years as a rising star of the game.

She fell out a form, lost the Breakers contract she had been awarded at 17 and her spot with WBBL team Sydney Thunder.

ROOKIE CONTRACT: Young guns extraordinary move

Saskia Horley in 2018 before her first game with Sydney Thunder.

Then a stunning season for Manly Warringah in the women’s Premier Cricket - where she was the top scorer - provided her with a launching pad back to success capped by the 22-year-old being named one of the NSW Breaker’s 17 contracted players for the 2022/23 cricket season on Tuesday.

Horley, who hopes to return to WBBL, takes the place of Rachel Trenneman with the Breakers list now boasting the likes of Alyssa Healey, Rachel Haynes and Ashleigh Gardner.

Saskia Horley, here at 15, was a NewsLocal sport star of the year nominee.

“Losing my contract was the best thing that could have happened to me,’’ Horley said.

“I was working outside the professional cricket bubble. I worked at an RSL club until four in the morning. I started the cricket coaching business. I had to work really hard.

“I matured a lot worked myself out. That’s the reality of working outside sport.’’

Horley is currently playing for Middlesex in the UK and grade cricket in a local men’s competition.

The Breakers return to training in June.

NSW BREAKERS SQUAD FOR 2022-23

Alyssa Healy (c), Jade Allen, Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns, Stella Campbell, Lauren Cheatle, Hannah Darlington, Ashleigh Gardner, Rachael Haynes, Saskia Horley, Emma Hughes, Sammy Jo-Johnson, Anika Learoyd, Phoebe Litchfield, Claire Moore, Lauren Smith, Tahlia Wilson