Rachael Haynes thriving under female professionalism

MONEY has been a nice reward for female cricketers, but it’s the time they now have to dedicate themselves to honing their game that is taking them to the next level.

Professionalism is starting to show in the Australian women’s cricket team. Pic: AAP

PROFESSIONALISM is more than just money in the bank.

For cricket’s female players, that is, if course, a welcome addition, but they also now have the freedom to dedicate themselves completely to being the best in the sport they love.

You can see the effect of that in someone like Rachael Haynes.

The Australian vice-captain is in the form of her career and she has no doubt it’s come from being able to finally call herself a fulltime cricketer.

“If I look at myself now, I’m the fittest I’ve ever been and physically I’m in the best condition I’ve ever been as well,” she said.

Haynes has steered Australia’s innings home on a number of occasions. Pic: Getty Images

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“That’s made a really big difference to me and my performance. I think there’s a really big correlation between the two. All of a sudden I’m taking another step with my game and how I’m playing.

“When you’ve got an opportunity to recover and get ready for the next game you’re able to do that as opposed to head off to your next commitment and go to work and those sorts of things.

“A lot has changed in what feels like a short period of time. I’m basically getting to do everything I ever wanted. It’s good fun.”

Haynes has been in incredible form with the bat and is thriving in her role of middle-order steady headed power hitter for Australia.

WBBL has helped the women’s game grow rapidly. Pic: AAP

She consistently delivered during Australia’s recent one-day series against Pakistan with scores of 24, 79 and 30 and has helped steer the team to victory in the middle alongside captain Meg Lanning in two recent matches.

As Australia prepare for their opening World T20 match against Pakistan on Saturday morning (our time), Haynes couldn’t be more comfortable with her role and taking the match to opposition bowling attacks.

“It’s more just understanding what the game situation needs,” she said.

“For me, when I’m walking out to bat, it’s ‘OK what does my team need from me in this moment?’

“That’s how I try to go out and play and what I try to execute when I’m out there.

Australia start their World T20 campaign on Saturday. Pic: AAP

“The beauty of it is that our batting order is just pretty aggressive so the next step for us at this level is making sure we back how we play and use that aggression to our advantage.”

Australia has come away empty-handed from the past two world tournaments so have laser-focus on getting it right this time.

They must get past Pakistan, Ireland, New Zealand and India in the pool stages in Guyana to advance to the finals in Antigua.

Victory at the World T20 would be a nice early birthday present for Haynes, who turns 32 on Boxing Day and has no interest on calling time on her playing days just yet.

“(No retirement), not at the moment; as long as I‘m still playing really good cricket,” she said.

“In our team we talk about having match-winning performances and if I’m still doing that at this level and still able to contribute in that way I definitely want to play as long as I can.”

Originally published as Rachael Haynes thriving under female professionalism