MILDURA West’s Ruby Woollard plans to keep her head down and play it straight following a strong batting performance to resume cricket in 2022.
Woollard opened the batting and retired on 30 to help Mildura West reach 5/111 in their round 10 clash against Nichols Point Green last Friday evening.
It was the 15-year-old’s second double-digit score while opening the batting, following a 22-run knock versus Coomealla Wentworth in round 8.
Along with her batting, Woollard bowled 1/13 off four overs to help restrict West’s opponents to 7/90 and earn herself this week’s Premier Women’s Player of the Round nomination.
Woolard said she had enjoyed batting with Demi Zanoni and Marlee Hards while at the crease, drawing on their aggression on the pitch.
“Demi’s good to bat with as she’s quick between the wickets – she can run really well, as well as Marlee,” Woollard said. “You can expect them to make a lot of runs as well.”
While she did not play cricket during the holiday break, she has had a busy to start the year, featuring as one of two over-age players in the Mallee Murray under-15 Youth Premier League (YPL) side in action in Melbourne this week.
But the young cricketer has seen the sudden upswing in cricket action as a positive, offering her a chance to train as she works to improve her game.
Although she has had a good 2021/22 Sunraysia Cricket Association (SCA) Premier Women’s season, reaching double-digits with the bat four times, she hoped to improve her technique and play the ball more along the ground.
“I lift my head up a lot when I bat and that lifts my arms and so the ball goes up a lot more,” Woollard said.
Alongside playing straighter shots in a bid to keep her head down, Woollard, who bowls medium pace, said she was looking to add a new delivery to her arsenal.
“I’d like to try adding a slower ball to my overs because I’ve been doing a few down here and it’s been working a bit.”
Woollard has taken seven wickets so far this season, including a season best 3/3 against Mildura East in November. This followed a 25-wicket season in 2020/21.
Mildura West’s Zanoni and Addison Bell are also featuring in the YPL team in Melbourne, and on their return, West, who sits second on the ladder, will face a stern test against ladder leader Merbein South tonight.
But for Woollard, Mildura West were in a good frame of mind heading into Friday’s meeting with undefeated Merbein South, having continued its supportive and fun atmosphere on the field to start the year.
“Everyone gets along really well. It’s really fun to play with everyone,” Woollard said. “Everyone’s really nice to each other and encouraging.”
As the Premier Women’s Player of the Round, Woollard receives a $40 voucher from the Coomealla Memorial Sporting Club.
