Shania shines with the bat

SHANIA McKinnon has already accomplished so much in her cricket career, so it may surprise many that she’s only 22 years of age.

The right-hander returned to Mildura Settlers this year after a short stint with Mildura East last season.

Although a chronic back injury has meant less bowling, McKinnon has so far looked deadly with the bat for her team.

Across four innings, she has retired not out three times and only been dismissed once.

“I missed a few trainings and preseason, was sick for a little while but the last few games, it’s all come together,” she said.

McKinnon said that working as a personal care assistant had made it challenging to maintain a work-life balance.

“We’ve got low staffing, so rostering is very difficult, it’s a very demanding job,” she said.

“The back injury is going to be long-term,, I’ve always had pain, it’s a birth defect.

“Creams, Panadol, that’s all I can really do.”

In the 2020-21 South Australian Premier Cricket women’s first-grade competition, McKinnon won the Karen Rolton Medal.

At 18, McKinnon also played in the division one men’s team for Settlers.

“I played fourths as a 13-year-old and progressed to division one at around the age of 18,” she said.

“I got approached by one of the guys, I wanted to do it at the time but right now it’s too much stress for the back so I took a step back.

“It was good, a really good atmosphere, you got to learn so many different techniques, it’s much quicker and more challenging, which I really liked.”

Although she will miss the next few games due to a planned trip to Western Australia, McKinnon was confident her team – which has a 3-2 record – could get the job done over the next few weeks.

“With a young side and for the amount of games we’ve played, I think we’re doing really well,” she said.

Settlers have a tough task ahead on Friday, facing the undefeated Mildura West at John Hall Oval.

In other games, Gol Gol are at home to Irymple at Alcheringa Oval, Mildura East face Coomealla Point at Mildura Sporting Precinct while Merbein clash with Nichols Point at Chaffey Park.