15-year-old Brisbane State High student’s slice of cricketing history
CRICKETING whiz kid Charli Knott will cap off a stunning rise through Queensland’s ranks, when the 15-year-old schoolgirl makes her debut for the Fire this weekend.
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CRICKETING whiz kid Charli Knott will cap off a stunning rise through Queensland’s ranks, when the 15-year-old schoolgirl makes her debut for the Fire this weekend.
The Brisbane State High School scholarship student will be one of the youngest debutants for the Fire since their inception in 1996, with Knott to meet both Tasmania and South Australia in Hobart in the Women’s National Cricket League.
Only Renee Irvine, who made her debut in 2016, beats Knott for the record, with a one-month age gap between the pair.
The Mackay product said she had no idea she was one of the youngest players from the last 20 years, but the call-up for the Fire was a goal she had been chasing for a long time.
“I was definitely working towards it and have been working towards it for the past couple of years,” she said.
“I was hoping for it.
“I just think (the call up) is a good indicator of what hard work can do. If you put the effort in, all the hard work can pay off.”
Knott, who also gave up soccer this year to chase a potential career in cricket, has been training with the Fire for the past month, putting in 15 hours of training a week outside of her schoolwork.
The all-rounder started playing club cricket at the age of 10 and her family moved to Brisbane four years ago to give her and her twin sister Hannah – on a gymnastics scholarship at State High – the best chance to pursue their respective sports.
Knott said she now has her sights set on becoming a contracted Fire player and one day an Australian cricketer.
Queensland will meet Tasmania for their WNCL clash on Friday and then South Australia on Sunday, with both matches to be played in Hobart.
Women’s National Cricket League, Friday v Tasmania, Sunday v South Australia, in Hobart
Full Fire squad: Kirby Short (c), Jemma Barsby, Haidee Birkett, Tess Cooper, Meagan Dixon, Josie Dooley, Jess Duffin, Grace Harris, Laura Harris, Sammy-Jo Johnson, Charli Knott, Georgia Prestwidge, Courtney Sippel, (one to be omitted, 12th player to be named).
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Originally published as 15-year-old Brisbane State High student’s slice of cricketing history
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