MAKINLEY Blows is eyeing off taking her game to the next level after re-signing with the Melbourne Renegades for the sixth season of Women’s Big Bash League cricket.
The 22-year-old former Workers Gol Gol cricketer had perhaps her best season in 2019-20, being named captain of the Victorian Women’s Premier Cricket Team of the Year and winning Essendon-Maribyrnong Park’s ladies club champion after scoring 825 runs and claiming 22 wickets.
This is on top of a maiden century at senior state level with Victoria last September.
“It’s going along at a good rate, I guess,” Blows said of her progression.
“It’s good to see some reward for the work you do put in but there’s still a long way to go, the next stage of my game is that Twenty20 style, and to make an impact and get into the team to start then try to find a role within the game to hopefully help the ‘Gades win some games.”
World Cup winning all-rounder Sophie Molineux and leading South African batter Lizelle Lee are among several signings for the Melbourne Renegades ahead of the season.
Blows was excited to have them as teammates in her second season back at the club she initially started with as a rookie in the first Big Bash season before switching to cross-town rivals Melbourne Stars for 18 games over three seasons.
“I’ve obviously grown up through the pathway with Soph, so it’s awesome to see her excelling at an international level and be part of her team and watching her dominate the Big Bash will be awesome,” Blows said.
“Lizelle, I spent two years with her at the Stars and to have her jump across as well will be exciting, they are obviously two world-class players that can dominate any kind of attack.”
Renegades head coach Lachlan Stevens said the presence of Molineux and Lee will help the younger squad members such as Blows.
“Both players bring great experience from the international stage and we’ve seen what they can produce at WBBL level,” Stevens said.
“Sophie has got the skill and talent to impact games with bat and ball and Lizelle can be one of the hardest hitters in the game.”
Living in Melbourne, Blows and her teammates have exemptions to continue to train at the elite domestic level despite the stage 4 lockdown.
She was grateful to be able to find some solace in sport in a difficult time due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s been a bit hectic … so I’m pretty lucky to have cricket as an out in this situation,” Blows said.
“I’m so grateful I’ve got another opportunity with the Renegades. We are all pretty grateful to get out of the house once a day and head to training.”
