Cricket break a smash for Ash during her brief cameo with bat

AUSTRALIA’S Ash Barty might be smashing winners to all areas of the court this week in her rejuvenated tennis career, but there’s little doubt she could have clubbed a few sixes for her country in another calling.

IN one season of cricket, Ash Barty turned heads.

It’s not ridiculous to say had the 21-year-old from Ipswich chosen not to return to tennis, she might well have been playing in the recent Ashes series.

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Her cricket cameo — she smashed a six out of the Junction Oval on her way to a quickfire 39 in her WBBL debut for Brisbane Heat in 2015 — was instead a circuit breaker that reignited her ­tennis career.

Ashley Barty can rip a backhand and clear a picket fence. Picture: Michael Klein

Barty has been a big name since she was an early teen, making her Australian Open debut as a 15-year-old in 2012, just months after claiming the junior Wimbledon singles title.

But by the end of 2014 she had walked away from the sport, burnt out by the grind of the circuit.

Andy Richards, the man who took Barty’s call as then coach of Queensland and Brisbane Heat when she wanted to talk cricket, said while you won’t see any cricket-like strokes in her tennis repertoire, the sport had made its mark.

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Ash Barty after breaking serve during her first-round triumph. Picture: Michael Klein

“Having seen her when we first sat down and had a cup of coffee and where she was and looking at her now, that’s probably two and half years, she’s just grown,” he said.

“She’s grown within herself … she’s really relaxed.

“We spoke about the homesickness, being on that tennis circuit at such a young age and not always with a lot of support … it certainly took a toll on her I think and the break was such a sensible thing to do.

“She just loved the freedom of team sport. She’s a team player, she probably belongs in a team sport, she just happens to be really good at the individual. I’ve no doubt her 18 months with us was valuable to her overall wellbeing.”

Richards described Barty, who returned to tennis in mid-2016 without a ranking, as very humble. She had doubt about her cricketing abilities.

She started slowly, but Richards says she could have become a top player.

“Her first two bats at club level she was out first ball and then second ball,” Richards said.

Ashley Barty stretches for a backhand against Aryna Sabalenka. Picture: Michael Klein

“I think about her fifth or sixth innings in, she scored a hundred in a T20 game. She’s the most extraordinary individual. She has talent to burn. We miss her. We would love to have her in our game.

“I have no doubt whatsoever (she could have played for Australia). Even (former national captain) Belinda Clark saw her; she was pretty excited about what she could have been.”

Richards and Barty watched a Big Bash game from the stands earlier this summer and he was courtside when she played in Brisbane.

“I’m immensely proud every time she goes on the court. Tennis was never my favourite sport to watch but I watch her games,” he said.

Italian Camila Giorgi is ranked 54 places behind Australian Ash Barty. Picture: AAP

TALE OF THE TAPE

ASHLEIGH BARTY

Country: Australia

Plays: Right-handed

Ranking: 17

Age: 21

Weight: 62kg

Singles titles: 1

Prizemoney: $2,993,395

V

CAMILA GIORGI

Country: Italy

Plays: Right-handed

Ranking: 71

Age: 26

Weight: 54kg

Singles titles: 1

Prizemoney: $3,044,073

Head-to Head 2-0