Charlie, currently in year 7, has been playing cricket for many years and during her primary school days was selected in several state teams. 

She is also part of the Riverina cricket academy, as well as playing at a local level in the Leeton District Cricket Association for the Yanco Cricket Club Stags. 

For most of the year she has played C grade on a Friday afternoon, but two weeks ago she received the call up to A grade for the first time. 

“I was pretty nervous before playing,” she said. 

“I didn’t think I would get much of a chance being so young, but I was given a bowl which was really cool.”

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In that game, Yanco were taking on Narrandera, with Charlie picking up the key wicket of Mick Foster in her first ever A grade dismissal. 

She also played A grade again last weekend, with captain Grant Forrest saying she had huge potential. 

Yanco are currently the side to beat, so Charlie was excited to be given the opportunity to play. 

Forrest said he had no doubt there was big things ahead for Charlie if she stuck with the sport. “I definitely think if she sticks with it she’ll be playing Big Bash one day … she’s really handy,” he said. 

Being the only female in the side, Charlie said everyone had treated her the same they would any other player. 

Earlier this year, Charlie captained the under 12s NSW state team at the nationals carnival in Barooga in January. She said her dream remained to one day play professional cricket. 

“I think it’s just something you have to keep working at,” Charlie said. I just enjoy playing.” 

With the Women’s Big Bash currently underway, Charlie hoped it may inspire some of her young friends to take up the sport. 

“Most of my friends don’t really get it,” she said. 

“They ask ‘why would you want to stand out in the sun all day?’, but I just tell them it’s really fun.”

For the moment, Charlie will be focusing on her local aspirations when the season returns after the Christmas and New Year break following this weekend’s final round. 

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