The former Australian cricket international Cathryn Fitzpatrick is looking forward to today's Twenty20 Big Bash in Papua New Guinea, but admits her impact on the field will be limited.
The 47-year-old spent 16 years as the fastest bowler in women's cricket and also spent three years as coach of Australian women's team.
Former Australian women's cricket player and coach Cathryn Fitzpatrick. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
She's one of four cricket legends invited to take part in the seventh annual Don't Drink and Drive Big Bash event in Port Moresby, alongside former England all-rounder Adam Hollioake, Australian batsman Brad Hodge and New Zealand player and coach Mark Greatbatch.
Fitzpatrick retired from playing eight years ago and admits she's a bit out of practice.
"My impact from a skills point of view is going to be really limited. There might be a bit of controversy if I come in and just start to bowl underarm. I think my days as a player are long-gone and certainly the body doesn't really hold up too much any more. I'll be running around out in the field but actually rolling the arm over might be not soo good for me any more, as well as from a batting point of view".
Fitzpatrick will play for the Piranhas team in today's competition alongside some of of PNG men's and women's international representatives.
She worked with the Lewas women's team last year and has been impressed by the set-up and progress cricket has been making in PNG.
"I was fortunate enough to see the girls play last year also and I think that the raw skills and talent and the passion that the girls play with is unbelievable and sort of unrivalled I would have thought also, in my observations. If you've got some talent
there's an opportunity for you to find a way to succeed".
Amini Park cricket ground in Port Moresby, during the 2015 Pacific Games. Photo: RNZI / Vinnie Wylie
