Emerging all-rounder crowned Tasmanian women’s player of the year in first season with state

Leg spinner Maisy Gibson landed in Tasmania desperate to show her skills and not only finished her debut campaign as a Tiger as the best player but also proved an all-rounder in the making.

Maisy Gibson flicks a ball through the leg side for the Hurricanes (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

MAISY Gibson won’t forget her first season in Tasmanian colours any time soon.

Gibson entered the 2019-20 summer seeking a fresh start and greater opportunities following four seasons with NSW, and finished it being crowned the Tigers best player.

And the award has left her hungrier to get stuck into another pre-season once the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.

“I wasn’t expecting it at all, especially after the seasons a few of the other girls had,” Gibson said.

“It is a great honour and our off season just started but now I’m pumped to get back.”

Cricket Tasmania signed the leg spinner to both its WNCL and WBBL programs, and by the end of the season the 23-year-old had added another string to her bow.

Maisy Gibson prepares to bowl during the WBBL (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

She finished the 50-over format with 10 wickets at an average of 26 and economy of 4.6, but also flashed her upside the willow after the Big Bash tournament.

Gibson backed up her maiden half century — an unbeaten 57 from just 40 balls — against Victoria with 48 against her former state NSW, seeing her finish the campaign with 150 runs at an average of 30.

“Last year I decided I needed a change, I had been at NSW for four years and I wasn’t getting the results I personally wanted being a consistent player in the 11.

“I came down here as a spinner that would bat in the lower order, and then once I got a little taste of hitting sixes and scoring my first 50 I was like ‘I want more of this’.

“I think for next season I definitely want to get up the order … hopefully if I put in the work I can get a slight promotion.

“Alex Pyecroft played a big part, he has been my batting coach on and off throughout the season and also Sara McGlashan [CT female pathway head coach] as well, she taught me to think like a batter.

“I’m not just someone who comes in at 10, I am someone who can potentially win the game for us.”

Gibson followed the success of another former NSW product Belinda Vakarewa, who earlier in the week was crowned the Hurricanes player of the year.

“You are not guaranteed success if you come down here but if you work hard, you have that opportunity to put it all into play.”