Phoebe Litchfield: question that kickstarted cricket prodigy’s career

It’s the simple request that kickstarted the hottest career in cricket. Long after conquering the family’s backyard, Phoebe Litchfield has the world at her feet.

“I just wanted to be in the game”: Phoebe Litchfield’s cricket career is only just getting started. Picture: Phil Hillyard

You have been described as a “cricket prodigy”, a “batting monster“ and a “sensation”. How do you handle that sort of talk? Does it affect you? It doesn’t faze me too much, to be fair. Sometimes it affects me when I am not performing and you look back and you go, ‘Oh, am I all just talk?’ But as soon as I get on the field, it sort of just disappears and I don’t think too much about it.

How did you fall in love with the sport? Initially, my family lived in town in Orange, NSW, and then when I was about three or four we moved out of town just as my brother was sort of getting into cricket. At the new home we had a tennis court and we put a cricket net up in the corner and that’s where I remember my first cricket memories were created. Our back yard is where I started watching my brother play and then eventually I turned to Dad and said, “Can I have a hit?”

What kind of role did your family play in those formative years? I remember I’d come home from school, especially in the summer when the sun went down really late, and we’d just be in the backyard having a bowl and a hit. Even just my brother and I. When Dad would get home from work he’d bring out a bucket of balls, and we would just go out and hit balls until it was done. It was the highlight of our day. It was our bonding time.

What was it like playing alongside the boys back in Orange and the surrounding country towns? I loved it – they were so good to me. In the country, there was nobody saying, “Oh God, there’s a girl playing.” It was really supportive and I just was like one of the boys. I was the biggest tomboy. Looking back on it, it’s awesome to think that my attitude to being the only girl was just Yeah, who cares? There were some funny comments made from the opposition though; sometimes the opposition boys were a bit like, “Who’s this girl? Slow down.” Then I’d hit a few balls … and they would speed up.

You recently equalled the record for the fastest women’s T20 half-century, off 18 balls – but initially you were an all-rounder … In the beginning I did pretty much everything and even kept [wicketkeeper] when I could. I just wanted to be in the game. And if I wasn’t good at something, I’d work hard until I was. So I started off as an all-rounder but … I sort of bowled pretty weirdly.

You’re part of a new generation of sportswomen who grew up cognisant of the fact that women could play their sport at an elite level, and make a living doing it. Who were your heroes when you were growing up? When I was like 11 or 12, I would say I still watched more men’s cricket than women’s, but I can remember who my favourite players were – it was three women. It was Alyssa Healy, Ellyse Perry and Meg Lanning.

At 20, with the world at your feet, where are you heading in your career? I’m on the fringe of the Australian side and I would like to be a mainstay. At the moment I look at that talented Aussie top order and think well, fair enough. I’m excited to take on the T20 format. It’s probably the weakest format for me. I’m keen to get stronger and hit more powerfully and just score runs at the end of the day.

The Women’s Big Bash League is now underway. Foxtel and Kayo will broadcast every match, including stand-alone matches at the MCG and SCG.