Wickets, winning runs and playing alongside her idols – 15-year-old Caoimhe Bray enjoyed a dream debut as she became the youngest player to feature in the Women’s Big Bash League.
The youngster, who just celebrated his 15th birthday in September, made an instant impact for the Sydney Sixers against Melbourne Renegades, teaming up with heroic Ellyse Perry.
Bray first cleaned up hard-hitting West Indian Deandra Dottin at the end of her solo over in Adelaide, taking revenge for Dottin smashing her first three balls for six, four and four.
She then maintained her composure in the final stages of the game, making a cameo on 12 of her five deliveries, hitting the second ball of England’s Alice Capsey with 4 ounces to set Sophie Molyneux for a boundary. He hit it and made it 3-1. Wicket victory for Sixers.
“It’s pretty amazing. I didn’t expect it to go this well,” Bray said afterward. “The first over was a bit dangerous but I was pretty happy with the wicket, I think we just needed to pick ourselves back up.
“I think because I was young, not much was expected of me. I still wanted to do well.” [with the bat]so I thought, “Maybe I’ll give it a try.” It went pretty well. ”
“I cried when Perry gave me the Sixers cap.”
Bray, who is also a goalkeeper for the Australian Women’s Under-17 Soccer Team, played for the Sixers in the T20 Spring Challenge prior to the WBBL, picking up five wickets in four matches.
“I wasn’t nervous at all before, but [my WBBL debut] But I was a little nervous when I went out. It’s okay, the Spring Challenge was very helpful. ”
Bray prefers to wear the number 8 jersey when playing cricket as a tribute to fellow all-rounder Perry (whom she says she modeled many of her school projects on), but her heroes are the Sixers. So he took that number away, so he chose number 18 instead.
Perry was definitely my role model from a very young age. If you ask all my elementary school friends, all of their school projects were about her, that’s for sure. I don’t find it scary or overwhelming to be compared to her because she is such an amazing person. I’m happy just to hear people say that.
Speaking about playing with Perry, who took two wickets against Renegades and topped the order with 81 points off 38 balls, Bray said: “It was literally a dream come true.
“She gave me the cap before the game and I cried a little bit. I cried even more. I was really excited. It’s an unforgettable memory.”
“When I was bowling, she was right next to me and said, ‘Just hit the top of the stumps.’ She was very calm and collected. I was with her. I was ready to bowl.”
‘Calm down’ Brey won’t give up on football
Player of the Match Perry said of Bray: “The great thing about this competition is that it gives opportunities to local stars and Caoimhhe is a great example of that. She has added so much to the group in just one game. “He gave me a lot of help,” he said.
“I found a DM from my girlfriend on Instagram two years ago when she was 13 years old and now we’re playing on the same pitch. Honestly, that’s good enough about a kid at that age. can’t say.
“She’s very calm, very level-headed. Her parents are obviously doing a great job.”
Perry previously played soccer for Australia, making 18 appearances in total, including an appearance at the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup, before switching to cricket.
Bray says he may have to choose between sports at some point, but he’s not there yet.
Speaking to reporters before the WBBL match, Bray said: “I’m still playing football. I want to do both for as long as possible and this WBBL contract won’t prevent me from playing football.”
“I dropped the soccer ball. [to Sydney] So I think I’ll go to the park and kick a ball around.
“But now the team is in Newcastle and I’ve been in Sydney for the last few months, so I can’t train as much.”
Watch the Women’s Big Bash League live sky sportsuntil the final on December 1st.
