Shooting Stars urged to leave comfort zone

Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars coach Cathryn Fitzpatrick has challenged her players to get outside their comfort zones when their tour of Sri Lanka gets underway on Thursday.

The Under-21 Shooting Stars development squad will meet Sri Lanka in three one-dayers and three Twenty20s over the next fortnight, with the tour a chance for Australia’s up-and-comers to test their skills in unfamiliar conditions against a high-quality opponent and push their own cases for national selection.

Fitzpatrick expects Sri Lanka to field a strong line-up, with the series presenting them with a valuable opportunity to prepare for the Women’s World Cup in England this June.

Quick single: 15-year-old named in Shooting Stars squad

“They’ll get exposed not only to subcontinent conditions, but have a chance to learn their craft a bit more, their ability to make good assessments and to understand the subcontinent batters,” Fitzpatrick told cricket.com.au of her charges.

“The main thing for me will be for them to have the ability to have some courage to try new things.

“To try and think way their way through situations, to have a plan and back that up with their execution.

“It’s about trying to extend them and get them out of their comfort zones a bit.

“On an international tour the wins and losses and team selection comes into it, but this is a bit more laidback and we’re encouraging the girls to try their variations and explore what they can and can’t do.”

The 13-player squad features a large contingent of seam bowlers, including NSW right-arm quick Belinda Vakarewa, ACT young gun Maitlan Brown, Western Australian Piepa Cleary and South Australia allrounder Tahlia McGrath – who has played one match for Australia, against South Africa last November.

Quick single: Fitzpatrick feels the need for speed

It’s not all about the quicks, however, with Fitzpatrick eager to see how her other charges, who include wicketkeeper-batter Georgia Redmayne, leg-spinners Rachel Trenaman and Alana King and off-spinner Lauren Smith, fare in subcontinent conditions.

At just 15, Trenaman is the youngest member of the touring party, having played in the Governor-General’s XI against South Africa last November just five days before making her state debut for New South Wales.

“Trenaman has been in the pathway for some time,” Fitzpatrick said. “She’s a good little allrounder who bowls good leg spin and can also bat and field.”

Tasmania’s Redmayne is the sole overage player in the squad, the 23-year-old rewarded for a summer that saw her become the first Roar player to score a century in the Women’s National Cricket League before she starred with the bat and behind the stumps for the Hobart Hurricanes in WBBL|02.

Fitzpatrick is also hoping for big things from Western Australia allrounder Heather Graham.

“Graham is a good batting allrounder, she’s very competitive and a smart cricketer,” she added.

“As a batter she hits to different areas and something happens every time she’s involved in the game.

“She’s always busy and finding ways to score runs and a partnership-breaker with the ball.”

The Shooting Stars will play three one-day internationals and three Twenty20s in Sri Lanka from March 29-April 11, with Melbourne Stars mentor David Hemp joining the squad as assistant coach. 

Shooting Stars squad: Jemma Barsby (Qld/Heat), Maitlan Brown (ACT/Renegades), Piepa Cleary (WA/Scorchers), Tess Cooper (Qld/Heat), Heather Graham (WA/Scorchers), Mikayla Hinkley (NSW/Thunder) (pending fitness), Alana King (Vic/Stars), Tahlia McGrath (SA/Strikers), Georgia Redmayne (Tas/Hurricanes), Lauren Smith (NSW/Sixers), Rachel Trenaman (NSW), Belinda Vakarewa (NSW/Thunder), Georgia Wareham (Vic/Renegades)

Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars v Sri Lanka schedule

30 March: First ODI, Moors, Colombo

1 April: Second ODI, Moors, Colombo

3 April: Third ODI, FTZ Katunayake, Colombo

6 April: First T20, Bloomfield, Colombo

8 April: Second T20, FTZ Katunayake, Colombo

10 April: Third T20, FTZ Katunayake, Colombo