Sara Darney will once again get the chance to swing the axe for NSW when the Toyota Australia Country Championships kick off this weekend.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Wellington batswoman is headed to Toowomba as part of the women's NSW Bush Breakers squad that will compete from January 5 - January 11.
The big hitter has previously drawn representative duties for NSW and was part of the Aboriginal XI team that toured England, as well as helping lift the Sydney Thunder Indigenous XI to an undefeated streak of wins in the Indigenous Women's T20 Cup late last year.
READ ALSO:
"Yeah, last year was pretty good to me, I've never this team, the Bush Breakers, before, so I'm really excited to make my debut," Darney said.
The Wellington cricketing talent said that training opportunities have been few and far between, but she's been well supported by her family and the community.
"I've just been focusing more on my running, my interval training and trying to get to the nets wherever I can, it is hard when you don't have a coach or people to train with," Darney said.
"My mum's actually been taking me to the nets every afternoon,and my partner and my family have been coming along and helping peg balls at me when they can."
Darney said she'd optimistic about replicating the success that drew selector's eyes when it comes time to play.
"Hopefully, I'm able to step up at that level as well and score a couple of runs and do a bit out in the field for the team."
While the move up to NSW representation is a big step for Darney, she's still hoping to see more Indigenous representative competitions in the near future.
"I'm hoping it becomes bigger and bigger as the years go on and more indigenous women can come along and get involved, especially in small towns like Wellington, it would be awesome to keep that tradition going of strong Wellington cricketing women."
She also extended her thanks and appreciation to family and friends at home, as well as the Wellington community, including cricket great Marie Cornish, for all their help.
Darney will line up alongside other western talent Alana Ryan with the rest of the Bush Breakers for their first round on Sunday, January 5.
The men's competition has already begun, with play starting on Friday, January 3.
