Haynes shines after unexpected call-up

When the Sydney Thunder failed to qualify for the Rebel Women’s Big Bash League finals, Rachael Haynes packed away her kit bag thinking her next elite-level match wouldn't come until the 2017-18 domestic season.

The last thing she expected was a last-minute call-up to the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars’ ODI squad to tour New Zealand, given just one day to pack her bags after Australia vice-captain Alex Blackwell strained her hamstring while fielding during the final T20I against the White Ferns at Adelaide Oval.

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Haynes flew to Auckland with the squad on Friday and just two days later, walked out to bat for her country for the first time since mid-2013, striking an impressive half-century in what was ultimately a five-wicket defeat.

“I wasn’t even on standby, so it was unexpected,” Haynes said after the Australian squad arrived in Mt Maunganui on Monday.

“It was a bit surreal and nice to have the opportunity to walk out there again, it wasn’t the result we were after but it was great to share in (NSW teammate) Lauren Cheatle’s debut and get out there again.

“In some respects I came back in with a level of comfort, knowing I can perform at this level.

“So I just tried to be really positive and with Beth Mooney batting well at the time, I was just trying to get her on strike and form a good partnership.”

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If the 30-year-old was feeling any nerves about her sudden return to international level, it didn’t show as she got off the mark with a boundary.

It was one of four times she reached the rope in her seventh one-day half-century, before being given out in contentious circumstances, with the ball appearing to bounce well short of ‘keeper Rachel Priest’s gloves.

Her final match for the Thunder was on January 21 and Haynes had taken two weeks off at the end of WBBL|02, however she was anything but rusty when the call came from national selector Shawn Flegler, having already returned to training with the NSW Breakers.

That in itself was a new experience for Haynes, with the ability to train year-round the result of the landmark sponsorship NSW signed with Lend Lease last year, which saw the Breakers become the country’s first fully professional domestic women’s sporting team. 

“Luckily enough with our Breakers squad, it’s one of the benefits of having that sponsorship," she said.

“We’ve been fortunate to be able to maintain training.

“I did have a couple of weeks off, but we’ve been back at it for three weeks now, so I didn’t come in off no base.

“It’s good to be playing cricket again and in hindsight, I was training for something (with the Breakers), so it’s been nice to come away and play.”

The likely return Blackwell and allrounder Ellyse Perry in Thursday’s second ODI at Bay Oval means Haynes could find herself a very unlucky omission for the must-win encounter, but the veteran batter says she is just going to make the most of any opportunities she is given.

“I was just filling in for some other players who are injured at moment, so we’ll see what happens," Haynes said.

“If they need me to play, then I’m more than happy to take the opportunity and go from there.”

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Australia must win the second ODI to keep the three-game series, and their hopes of retaining the Rose Bowl, alive.

Despite a disappointing loss in the series-opener, with the Southern Stars powerless to stop an in-form Amy Satterthwaite from scoring a record-equalling fourth-consecutive ODI century, Haynes is optimistic Australia can turn things around at Bay Oval on Thursday.

“It was disappointing not to bat out our overs after having such a great start and building a good base," she said.

“There were a couple of minor things with the ball as well, some extras and we need to create a bit more pressure with the ball.

“But I don’t think we’re far off, if we have a couple more good days together as a team and try to get things right for game two.”