Gunnedah’s Emily Leys has been working hard refining her bowling craft as she continues to chase her cricketting dream.
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The pursuit of that dream has taken her to the nation’s capital where Leys is currently in her second Women’s National Cricket League campaign with the ACT Meteors, after moving from the NSW Breakers.
“I’d been there for a few years and felt like I needed a change and to challenge myself,” the 24-year-old said.
“I was just looking to be around some different players and different coaches and see if I could learn some more.”
Not that at this stage of her career it so much about technique.
“At this level it’s more about trying to outsmart people and get things tactically right,” Leys said.
In that regard it has been great to pick the brains of the likes of South African international Marizanne Kapp.
“To be around the number one ranked pace bowler in the world is amazing,” the left-armer said.
Described as an allrounder, Leys has been more been focusing on her bowling.
That’s where she believes the opportunities are to crack the national side.
“I’ve spent a lot of time the last couple of years fielding and carrying the drinks,” she said adding jokingly that she’s “got pretty good at that”.
Now it’s about trying to force that opportunity.
“That’s just being consistent and getting some runs in grade cricket,” she said.
Injuries haven’t helped her progression the last couple of years. She’s shown glimpses of good form and then had an injury and missed large chunks of time, or lost confidence.
After a few weeks break the Meteors are back in action this weekend. They head to Perth to face her former side on Sunday and Western Australia on Monday.
“That will be a big round for us,” Leys said.
“We’re the three teams that are undefeated.”
Playing for Gordon, Leys was the leading wicket-taker in the Sydney first grade competition last season.
“It’s always nice to play grade cricket,” she said, although with Meteors and other cricketting commitments she doesn’t get to do that as often as she would like.
“You remember you play cricket for fun.”
It’s also a good testing ground for things you’ve been practising in the nets.
A star for NSW at under 15, under 17 and under 18 level, Leys takes a keen interest in how the women’s game is developing back in her home region and is pleased to see so much talent coming through.
“When I was growing up I knew Erin (Osborne) played but I didn’t know girls played cricket,” she said.
As Osborne did she spent a lot of time playing with boys, not that it really worried her.
“I loved playing with the boys and I learnt a lot from it,” she said.
Also a talented hockey player in her junior days, cricket won the former Calrossy student over.
“Cricket is such a complicated game and such a mental game. The challenge of that drives me,” she said.
After this weekend the next round of WNCL game’s isn’t until February.
Between then Leys will be hoping to help the Sydney Sixers defend their Women’s Big Bash title.