Move south pays off for Redmayne

Sometimes, just finding an opportunity can be the biggest hurdle for a talented young player.

It was the search for opportunity that prompted promising young wicketkeeper-batter Georgia Redmayne to pack her bags and relocate to Tasmania for the 2016-17 summer, a decision that has paid off richly for the 23-year-old.

When a breakout club summer in 2015-16 wasn’t enough to secure a Rebel Women’s Big Bash League contract, and knowing that breaking into the talent-packed New South Wales team would be nigh-on impossible with Australia wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy holding court behind the stumps, Redmayne was only too happy to answer the call of Tasmania and Hobart coach Julia Price.

Quick single: McGrath hungry for Australia recall

In the months that followed, the Coffs Harbour-based medical student created Tasmanian history – scoring the state’s first ever century in the Women’s National Cricket League and breaking the Roar’s nine-game losing streak in the process – and earned herself a spot in the Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars development squad which is currently touring Sri Lanka.

In six matches for the Roar, Redmayne averaged 59, scored two tons, took three catches and executed seven stumpings, before scoring 278 runs as she helped the Hurricanes reach the WBBL|02 semi-finals.

Those performances impressed national selectors enough for Redmayne to be included in the under-21 Shooting Stars squad as an overage player.

Despite being in her fifth year of a medical degree at the University of NSW, it was a chance the ‘keeper had no hesitation in accepting.

Since arriving on Sri Lankan soil, she’s repaid their faith, posting two half-centuries as the Australian side secured a 3-0 series win in the 50-over matches.

While the Shooting Stars were romping to an eight-wicket win in the first of three T20 matches on Thursday, Redmayne was named both Tasmania’s WNCL player of the year and their Young Female Player of the Year. 

"(Playing for Tasmania) has been a fantastic opportunity for me,” Redmayne told cricket.com.au from Colombo.

"To be able to ‘keep and open the batting for the Roar and the Hurricanes has just been a great move for me.

"At NSW there’s such a great depth of talent and there’s only one wicketkeeper for each team and Healy is obviously the best in the country at the moment.”

Redmayne is putting her outstanding run of form down to the increased confidence that’s come with having an assured place at the top of the order and with the gloves for both the Roar and the Hurricanes.

"Tasmania’s a great state and it’s a great team environment, they’re really backing me to perform and believe in my ability."

She’s also relishing the opportunity to don the green and gold in Sri Lanka.

While she’s not concerning herself too much with thoughts of even higher honours at the minute – with Healy in career-best form behind the stumps for the Southern Stars and Queensland ‘keeper Beth Mooney currently in the Southern Stars’ best XI as a batter alone – Redmayne is determined to make the most of every chance that does come her way.

"It’s been fantastic so far (in Sri Lanka), it’s definitely quite different to playing back home,” Redmayne said.

"It’s a really great experience playing in different conditions and just being able to come over here with a team of girls from all over the country.

"It’s been good to bat at the top of the order and spend bit of time in the middle.

"I’ve been pretty happy overall so far, but there’s still plenty to improve on."

Redmayne is particularly enjoying one aspect of touring Sri Lanka – the chance to keep wicket to two of the most promising young leg-spinners in the country.

"I’m quite impressed by our youngest member, (15-year-old) Rachel Trenaman from Wagga Wagga, with her commitment on the field and the way she’s helping out teammates and just her maturity and knowledge of the game,” she said.

"She’s been bowling to me and I’m just amazed at the insight she has and by the questions she’s asking me as a ‘keeper, things I hadn’t even thought of.

"Also Alana King with her leggies, and every ball she bowls it feels like there’s opportunity there.

"There’s hopefully plenty for opportunities in the future for plenty of the girls here."