Rising star Phoebe Litchfield to play with likes of Ponting, Lara, Warne, Gilchrist at Bushfire Bash
Schoolgirl sensation Phoebe Litchfield is excited about taking the field with legends Shane Warne, Ricky Ponting and Brian Lara for the Bushfire Bash Charity match - but not half as much as her dad is.
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Think schoolgirl sensation Phoebe Litchfield is excited about playing alongside Shane Warne, Ricky Ponting and Brian Lara in Saturday’s Bushfire Cricket Bash at the SCG?
That’s nothing compared to her father and junior coach, Andrew, who was responsible for her cricket education growing up.
“Dad’s definitely stoked to watch the game, it’s a lot of his heroes, he was so excited when I told him I was playing,” Litchfield said.
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“When he coaches me, he always references Brian Lara. We watch footage of him to get technique, so to see him in the flesh would be crazy.”
The 16-year-old prodigy from Orange — who many have tipped to be the next Ellyse Perry — was just three years old when Warne retired from international cricket.
“I didn’t actually grow up watching most of them, I was that generation after, but I’ve obviously heard things,” Litchfield said.
“They’re more like cult heroes to me, they’re even more legendary in my head because I didn’t watch them when they were playing.”
Litchfield said she was shocked to get a call last week from former Aussie batter Alex Blackwell to play in Cricket Australia’s charity match.
“To get on the park with Ricky Ponting and Shane Warne, to be coached by Sachin Tendulkar, who would turn that down?” Litchfield said.
“And it’s for a great cause. We had family who lost land in the fires, so it’s great to be able to help.”
The youngster burst onto the scene for Sydney Thunder during the WBBL and already has emerged as one of Australia’s most promising batters.
Last week Litchfield almost single-handedly led the Governor-General’s XI to a thrilling five-wicket victory over India.
The youngster arrived at the crease in the 14th over, with Australia still needing 46 runs from 37 balls.
A composed Litchfield bashed two sixes, scored 25 not out from 17 balls and was named player of the match.
“My mindset is see the ball, hit the ball. And then hope and run hard,” Litchfield said.
“It can be hard, especially in that game because we only needed a small total but we made it hard for ourselves, but we were lucky to have few big overs and I got a few away.”
After clocking big games for Sydney Thunder, the NSW Breakers, Australia A and the Governor-General's XI, Litchfield has been dubbed the future of the women’s game.
And while the 16-year-old’s goal is to one day be picked for Australia, for now she’s trying to take things slowly.
“I try not to ever think, ‘Yeah I’m the next Ellyse Perry’, because that’s just miles away, I have to keep that out of my head, not get too big for my boots,” Litchfield said.
“Right now I just have to play cricket, keep on getting better and hopefully that is the outcome.”
The Bushfire Cricket Bash will be held at the SCG on Saturday.
Ponting XI v Warne XI, SCG, Saturday, 3.25pm (EDT)
Players: Shane Warne (c), Ricky Ponting (c), Adam Gilchrist, Alex Blackwell, Andrew Symonds, Brad Fittler, Brad Haddin, Brett Lee, Brian Lara, Dan Christian, Nick Riewoldt, Elyse Villani, Grace Harris, Holly Ferling, Justin Langer, Luke Hodge, Matthew Hayden, Michael Clarke, Mike Hussey, Phoebe Litchfield, Shane Watson, Yuvraj Singh, Wasim Akram
Coaches: Sachin Tendulkar, Courtney Walsh
Non-players: Steve Waugh, Mel Jones, Andrew Johns