Orange teenager Phoebe Litchfield is in line to make her NSW debut in the opening two rounds of the Women's National Cricket League at Adelaide, after being named in the Breakers' 13-strong touring squad.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Litchfield has enjoyed a whirlwind of success in recent years and despite being just 16 she is one of five potential debutants named in the Breakers' touring party, with NSW to kick-start their title defence against South Australia on Sunday.
She'll have another chance to earn her first cap on Tuesday when NSW clash with Victoria, having earned a contract for her rookie season after dominating the women's under-age scene last summer and earning a spot in the Australian under-19 side.
The side will skippered by Bathurst's Lisa Griffith, who will become NSW's 29th captain when she stands in for the absent Alyssa Healy, just three years ago she was working on a 3.5 million hectare outback cattle station in the Northern Territory and not giving cricket a thought.
Griffith has obviously had a whirlwind rise of her own and said she's "honoured" to take NSW's reins, before mentioning how stoked she'd be for Litchfield should the youngster be named in the side's final XI.
"It's been a whirlwind few years, I've been really lucky to kind of come back into the environment and I guess have the opportunity and backing from Cricket NSW," Griffith said.
"Very honoured to take on the side this weekend. Really fortunate we have got five or six players within the group who could all be captain, so I'm really lucky that I'm the one who has a C next to my name.
"It's a real honour to receive your cap for NSW and be able to debut, so I'm really excited to captain those girls and be there for their first games. Hopefully we can show them they way with how we like to play our cricket."
In another positive sign for the Bathurst all-rounder, Breakers coach Dominic Thornely said the choice of Griffith as stand-in captain was part of a long-term vision.
"We definitely understand that there will most likely be a reduction in international players playing WNCL cricket going forward," he said.
"Lisa has been amazing the last few years in her leadership in and around our group."
- NSW BREAKERS: Lisa Griffith (c), Sarah Aley, Stella Campbell, Lauren Cheatle, Rene Farrell, Jodie Hicks, Saskia Horley, Phoebe Litchfield, Hayley Silver-Holmes, Lauren Smith, Naomi Stalenberg, Rachel Trenaman, Tahlia Wilson
WANT MORE ORANGE NEWS AND SPORT?
- Receive our free newsletters delivered to your inbox, as well as breaking news alerts. Sign up below ...