By Liam McCullagh ACS Journalism Scholar (mentored by The Footy Almanac‘s John Harms).
From playing in the Women’s Big Bash League at sixteen years-of-age to being the first girl picked in Ballarat Clarendon College’s First XI team, Australian Cricket Society’s young female Cricketer of the Year, Sara Kennedy, 17, is well on her way to being a future star of women’s cricket.
A tall left arm quick who blitzes through batting attacks with raw pace, Kennedy was a non-travelling reserve member of Australia’s 2023 Under 19 World Cup and represented Vic Country Under 19s in 2022, when she was 15 years old.
Growing up on a farm in Skipton, 160-kilometres west of Victoria’s state capital Melbourne, recalls being one of the few girls in the area playing cricket.
“I was the only girl in our team and there were maybe one or two others in the league,” she said.
Despite being one of the handful of girls participating in the league, Kennedy said her junior days in Skipton still hold fond memories.
“Playing cricket in Skipton was a great introduction to the game, there was a good group of local kids that I got to play with and learn about the game from,” she said.
Her earliest memories of the game are similar to those around Australia, with her first playing the sport on the beach or in the schoolyard.
“Skipton primary school was always very passionate about both their boys and girls cricket teams so that is probably the way that I started playing initially,” she said.
“There are lots of important people who have helped me along the way, from my parents who have driven me around for years, to junior coaches and teammates who have all elevated my enjoyment for the game and taught me to love cricket.”
To add to the trailblazing feats, Kennedy said being the first ever female picked in Ballarat Clarendon College’s First XI cricket team was a “pretty cool moment”.
“The school has been around for such a long time and especially at the minute we have a very strong team, so it was a shock to be included, but I have learnt so much from being around that space,” Kennedy said.
“I think the reaction to the selection was pretty incredible. All of the boys were extremely welcoming, and I had played with and against a few of them through club cricket, so I was just treated as though I was another player which was exactly what I wanted.”
Last season Kennedy also made her debut for the Melbourne Renegades. Breaking through for her first wickets in her third game, Kennedy dismissed Australian representatives, Maitland Brown, and Ashleigh Gardner.
“The experience was incredibly surreal. I got a call the night before the game I think from the coach to let me know. I was sitting at the kitchen table doing homework, so it was lucky I picked my phone up,” she said.
Competing against Australia’s and some of the world’s best female cricketers was a great experience for the young quick who hopes to take the learnings from last season into the next.
“Competing against and alongside players of that calibre always raises you and inspires you to elevate your game, you watch the way they warm up and prepare for the big moments and I think that is probably one the biggest things I’ll take away from that experience, the utter professionalism demonstrated by the players was phenomenal,” Kennedy said.
“I think like most things just kind of focusing on the next game, or tournament is the best way to keep you from getting too far ahead of yourself. Ensuring your game is at the highest level and continuing to develop yourself is ultimately the best way to achieve aspirations.” Winning Australian Cricket Society’s Young Female cricketer of the year is a great way to cap off Kennedy’s remarkable achievements in her already short career, and she is certainly one to watch in the upcoming instalment of the Women’s domestic cricket summer.
Australian Cricket Society’s literary scholar Liam McCullagh is mentored by writer John Harms. His pieces are also published at www.footyalmanac.com.au .