Launnie livewire named Cricket Blaster of the Year

She may be deaf, but that hasn’t stopped Launceston livewire Frankie Mountney chasing her cricket dreams. Her inspiring story was recognised with an award at the sport’s night of nights.

Launceston’s Frankie Mountney was named Woolworths Cricket Blaster of the Year, at the Australian Cricket Awards on Monday night. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images for Cricket Australia)

Launceston livewire Frankie Mountney’s inspiring refusal to let her disability stop her chasing her cricket dreams was recognised by being crowned the Woolworths Cricket Blaster of the Year.

The bubbly eight-year-old had a crowd brimming with the country’s best players eating out of the palm of her hand when accepting the honour at the Australian Cricket Awards in Melbourne on Monday night.

Mountney is deaf and wears bilateral cochlear implants, but her infectious enthusiasm for the game has seen her become a semi-regular in Hurricanes game coverage.

Decked out in a spiffy pink dress instead of her usual playing gear, Mountney delivered an unsurprising answer when asked who her favourite Hurricanes player is.

Frankie Mountney with last year’s Woolworths Cricket Blaster of the Year Taj Bower. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images for Cricket Australia)

“After going to the Big Bash final I’d have to say Mitchell Owen (is my favourite player), what a performance,” she said.

“My favourite thing about cricket is probably playing with my friends and having time with my family, but most important is having fun.”

Asked if she had a message for older brother Luca, who she is keen to dismiss in backyard cricket, Mountney whispered “Watch out”, prompting laughter from Hurricanes skipper Nathan Ellis.

Mountney also spoke to media before the Hurricane’s Big Bash final victory over Sydney Thunder after she was named in the Woolworths Cricket Blast First XI.

“I’m too young to play cricket for a club, but the coach from the South Launceston Cricket Club invited me to train with the under-12s,” she said.

“I may even be able to play with them next year.”

Hobart Hurricanes fan Frankie Mountney with Sydney Thunder fan Julian Cashman before the Big Bash final. Picture: Linda Higginson

Frankie’s mother, Steph said before the final that cricket was her daughter’s outlet.

“She’s always excited to get out there and play cricket – not just on Saturday mornings when they have games – but any opportunities to play in the backyard with her big brother, Luca, and her dad,” Ms Mountney said.

“That’s all she does all summer, pretty much. It’s really great to see a kid with a disability have as many opportunities as able-bodied kids.

“She’s got her purple headband to match the Hurricanes gear to hold her implants in. It’s really lovely to see her striving as a kid with a disability.”