Stars veteran still learning new tricks

A successful partnership off the field has paved the way for veteran Australia batter Alex Blackwell to take her game out in the middle to another level and potentially prolong her international career for the unforeseeable future. 

Blackwell is set to take part in her ninth Women’s Ashes series when the multi-format series kicks off with the first one-day international at Allan Border Field this Sunday.

The 34-year-old is the oldest and most experienced member in Australia’s squad for the Test and ODI legs of the campaign against England.

But as she approaches her 250th game in the green and gold for her country, the injection of Twenty20 cricket, the Rebel Women’s Big Bash League and working with batting coach Mark McInnes has her feeling like a 12-year-old.

That is, enjoying her cricket, wanting to improve and most importantly having fun.

“The WBBL has had a big impact on my career and T20 generally,” Blackwell told reporters today.

“I was a part of (Australia’s) first-ever T20 (international) side back in 2005, Belinda Clark captaining that first-ever match and my twin sister Kate being alongside me. 

“The BBL has brought a new sense of enthusiasm, especially for me. It’s really shaken up domestic cricket in Australia. 

“World-class players from around the world are coming here to test themselves and also create a very strong competition for us. 

“I’ve also looked at working with a new batting coach Mark McInnes and we’ve been working together for about a year and a half. 

“I’m seeing great results working with him. He sees greater potential in my game than I perhaps see in myself. It’s been a great partnership.”

As cricket evolves so has Blackwell, who has added the ability to clear the pickets to her expansive skill set.

Evidence of that new power can be found when looking at the three sixes she struck in her 70-ball 90 in the Women’s World Cup in July.

The right-hander also registered five maximums and 45 fours in last summer’s WBBL, a dramatic increase from the one six and 28 fours she struck in the inaugural season a year earlier. 

It’s been a key area of focus for Blackwell and McInnes, the former Manly-Warringah first grade leg-spinner turned coach who works with NSW Lendlease Breakers, Sydney Thunder and star pupils Blackwell and Australia captain Rachael Haynes.

“I met Alex seven, eight years ago when I coached at her grade club and then I got involved with the Breakers and Thunder,” McInnes told cricket.com.au.

“We were talking after the Thunder won the WBBL final (in January, 2016), just talking about her position within the competition. She mentioned a couple of other players and how they were dominating and she felt she wasn’t. 

“I said ‘I think that can be you’. And that’s sort of how it started.

“The main thing is Alex, who’s played 15 years of international cricket, was getting a bit bored or uninspired so I just got her to go back to why she played cricket and have fun, see the ball and hit it, enjoying training and keep improving.

“She likes to be pushed. I probably opened her eyes as to what’s possible and just through her hard work and work ethic she’s been able to achieve a few things she didn’t think was possible.”

Part of the improvement came through the addition of hitting through the air and some technical changes to enable more scoring options, says McInnes.

“We changed her grip and put a different grip on her bat, called a Squirrel Grip, and that reduces the amount the bat spins in her hand so she’s able to hit the ball more powerfully with more elevation,” he said. 

“She tended to hit to the leg-side a lot so we opened up the off-side, give her a few more options along the ground and over the top on the off-side. 

“Our dream is to be a 720 degree player not just a 360 degree player. That means to hit 360 degrees along the ground and 360 degrees through the air.That’s our long-term goal.”

Blackwell’s evolution has McInnes believing she could play until the next World Cup in New Zealand in 2021, and then for long after at domestic level as Australia’s female cricketers reap the deserved rewards of the recent professionalisation of the women’s game. 

“I can see she’s got three or four years at least at the top level and then Big Bash and different things after that,” he said. 

“To keep wanting to improve at her age and her level it’s like working with a 12-year-old at times and that’s how we have our sessions, is to have some fun and try different things. 

“I said to Alex she’s played so long now all the money is here and all the exciting stuff is happening we’ve got to enjoy it and be part of it. 

“You don’t want to miss out now and miss out on all the stuff she’s worked so hard for.”

Commonwealth Bank Women's Ashes

Australia squad (ODI and Test): Rachael Haynes (C), Alex Blackwell (VC), Kristen Beams, Nicole Bolton, Lauren Cheatle, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Belinda Vakarewa (Test only), Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington.

England squad: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone, Georgia Elwiss, Jenny Gunn, Alex Hartley, Danielle Hazell, Laura Marsh, Anya Shrubsole, Sarah Taylor, Nat Sciver, Fran Wilson, Lauren Winfield, Danielle Wyatt.

Schedule

First ODI Allan Border Field, October 22

Brisbane Charity Partner: Lord Mayor's Charitable Trust

Second ODI Coffs International Stadium, October 26

Third ODI Coffs International Stadium, October 29

Coffs Junior Cricket Association Partners: Coffs Harbour District JCA, Nambucca Bellingen JCA, and Clarence River JCA

Day-Night Test North Sydney Oval, November 9-12

First T20 North Sydney Oval, November 17

North Sydney Charity Partner: McGrath Foundation

Second T20 Manuka Oval, November 19

Third T20 Manuka Oval, November 21

Canberra Charity Partner: Lord's Taverners ACT