IT’s nice to see the hard work pay off, says one Mildura Easts’ cricketers as she signs off on her summer of cricket with another 30 retired not out
performance.
Ella Higgins played in her last Premier Women’s match of the season last Friday, hitting 30 not out to steer her side to 5/87 against Merbein South.
While the Saints were able to chase down the target, finishing on 6/118, Higgins was able to star with the ball with a team-best 2/16.
Her performance with ball and bat earned Higgins this week’s Premier Women’s Player of the Round nomination.
Higgins has picked up 10 wickets bowling medium pace, but said she felt most satisfied about her batting because of the “hard work” she had put in developing her batting technique.
Working with Easts coach, and her father, Brett Higgins, Ella said she had reached the stage where good footwork had become muscle memory.
“He was mainly working on footwork to get (my) body in line with the ball,” Ella said. “So, it comes off the bat easier, and you’re ready.”
Ella has enjoyed a great run at the crease, hitting consecutive 30 retired not outs in the last three weeks.
She said the strategy of working on footwork had helped the team develop as batters to support their bowlers.
“The main thing was getting runs on the board quicker,” Higgins said. “We were working on our footwork to get a few more shots and runs.
“The other thing we’ve been doing is working on attacking with the ball.”
While Easts sit in the lower part of the Premier Women’s ladder, Ella, who left for Melbourne after last Friday’s game to begin her studies in Sports Science, said she felt the
season had been a success as the side had shown growth.
“We’ve always had a seasoned bowling attack, but this year, everyone’s starting to improve with the bat and that helps getting a few wins on the board.
“Everyone’s happy with what’s happened this year for us – there’s been a lot of growth.”
Higgins said it was unlikely she would have much time to work on her cricket once her studies began, but said she hoped to return to play for Easts next summer.
As the Premier Women’s Player of the Round, Ella receives a $40 voucher from the
