MOST cricketers have good and bad days, but for one Merbein South player living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) that adage is especially true.
Merbein South’s Stephanie Neaylan said living with MS, she approached each week with a clean slate, and viewed a good week of cricket as runs on the board.
“When I first got diagnosed, I wasn’t really sure how I was going to react. And the heat obviously takes a big toll on me,” Neaylan said.
“Every week, I’m like, ‘it’s a clean slate, go out there and it is what it is’. There’s nothing you can do about it.”
After retiring not out 30 against Irymple in round 8, Neaylan hit another 30 against Mildura East to remain unbeaten in two bats, earning this week’s Premier Women’s Player of the Round nomination.
Neaylan said she had had a good couple of weeks where she had gone out to play with a “positive attitude and mindset”.
“I do get obviously exhausted out there for a good 30 runs worth. It does exhaust me. It takes a toll on my body.”
Despite the physical toll, the eight-season veteran’s 60 runs have put her in a good position to exceed her run total from last year (100).
But the medium-pace bowler also contributed with the ball at the weekend, taking 3/14 including a wicket maiden.
Her figures could have been better, with a number of dropped catches off her bowling, and all dismissals were bowled.
“We have a bit of a joke within the club that I’ve got to do it myself,” Neaylan said.
“This season and last season, no one would catch me, so I just have to bowl all my wickets. It’s a bit of banter and an infield joke, really. We all have a laugh about it.”
On Friday, Merbein South hit 4/106 in their allotted 20 overs and restricted Mildura East to 7/81. The Saints have now won four straight, following wins against Gol Gol, Nichols Point Green and Irymple.
Neaylan said the team had focused on not worrying about past performance. Each week they strode out knowing they could win.
“We’ve got plenty of people in the shed that can get out there and make 30. This year we’ve had six different people make 30,” she said.
“We’ve got others that can’t quite make the 30 but when they get a hold of the ball, it goes, which is nice.”
Merbein South sit top of the ladder undefeated, but Neaylan said a positive this season was the jokes people had shared on-field.
“We all have on-field banter and everyone’s just bantering against each other. It relaxes everyone, which is nice instead of having tense feelings.
“When we’re happier and laughing, things just seem to gel well and go along better.”
As the Premier women’s Player of the Round, Neaylan receives a $40 voucher from Coomealla Memorial Sporting Club.
