Quantcast

Chance worth the wait for Aley

NSW bowler ready to take her opportunity if handed an international debut on Friday

Sarah Aley’s inclusion in the Australian squad has been a long time coming and now the NSW fast bowler is ready and raring to go should she be handed an international debut at the MCG this Friday.

Aley was called into the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars T20 squad last week as cover for teenage quick Lauren Cheatle, who is overcoming a shoulder injury, and is a strong chance to be part of the final XI which meets New Zealand in the first match of the three-game series.

"I didn’t really expect to get the call, I thought Lauren would be fine," Aley told cricket.com.au.

"I’m looking forward to it. During the year my main focus was on performing well for the teams I was in (NSW and the Sydney Sixers) and anything else was a bonus.

"Missing out on the initial squad was disappointing but to know I was close and was being considered was a good thing.

"I knew I was thereabouts and thought hopefully I’d be rewarded and in the end I have.

"It’s not the way I would have liked with someone being injured, but if I get the opportunity to play I’ll try and do everything I can with it.”

Aley's four wickets delivers Sixers WBBL title

It's a welcome opportunity for the 32-year-old Sydney Sixers star, who was first included in Australia’s development squad – the Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars – back in 2004.

"The good thing is a lot of the girls who are in the Southern Stars squad now are players I’ve toured with at some point either recently or a while ago.

"I’ve played alongside or against them all in state competition so hopefully (joining the squad) will be an easy transition for me."

Aley, Smith reflect on Sixers WBBL victory

Speaking after the Sixers took out the WBBL|02 title in Perth late last month – thanks in no small part to Aley’s 4-23 - Australian wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy commented that Aley was one of the most unlucky players in the country to have not taken that one extra step to the top level.

"I played Shooting Stars for Australia with Aley, she was my captain, and she was probably one of the most unlucky not to play for Australia … whenever you need her in any team she does the job for you,” Healy said.

"She pulls it out in the big games and she did it again (in the final)."

Join the Sixers in the sheds

That luck has now changed thanks to Aley’s 28 wickets at 11.75 with the very handy economy rate of 5.68 in WBBL|02, combined with her 11 wickets in seven matches to help the NSW Lend Lease Breakers win the National Women’s Cricket League title in December.

"For me I just trying to be a little more consistent and I made one or two tweaks with my action," Aley said of her preparations for the summer.

"I guess in the end that persistence and hard work has paid off."

Aley’s skills aren’t limited to the ball, either – she’s also capable of some lower-order big hitting and took several excellent one-handed return catches during WBBL|02.

Sixers star with one-handed catches

A fierce competitor, she will be ready to take it to the White Ferns if given the opportunity on Friday.

"I’ve been able to play against a few of them during the Big Bash and they’re top-quality international players so there’s never a downtime in the game when such good players are playing.

"I’ll just be making sure I keep doing what I’m doing, I don’t think I need to change much because so far it’s been working.

"Hopefully I can translate that form to the next level."

The three T20s against New Zealand will be played as double-headers alongside the men’s KFC T20 INTL series against Sri Lanka, with all three matches to be broadcast live on Nine’s Wide World of Sports.

Australia v New Zealand T20s

17 February: MCG, Melbourne, 2.05pm AEDT

19 February: Kardinia Park, Geelong, 2.35pm AEDT

22 February: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, 2.05pm AEDT

Australia v New Zealand ODIs

26 February: Eden Park No.2, Auckland, 9am AEDT

2 March: Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, 9am AEDT 

5 March: Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, 9am AEDT

Image Id: C94A5709C1CE414D8622943BD75B4039