New Delhi: Hobart Hurricanes have roped in 13-year-old Mia Barwick to their squad for the ongoing T20 Spring Challenge as the replacement of a departing Heather Graham who has travelled to the UAE to join the Australian national team at the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. As Tayla Vlaeminck sustained an injury during one of Australia’s group-stage fixtures, she was ruled out of the entire tournament and Graham was dispatched to cover for her in the squad.
Barwick, who is in the first year of her teens, is a pace bowler who impressed with his skillset in the Cricket Tasmania Premier League and has also been involved in the U-16 and U-19 Female National Championships. She carried drinks for the team in their clash against Perth Scorchers on Monday and has a fair chance of featuring in the final stages of the new competition which is serving as a preparation for the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL).
“At only 13 years of age, the Hobart Hurricanes are proud to see a Cricket Tasmania pathways athlete given exposure to the professional game early on in Barwick’s career,” Hurricanes said.
As the leading Australian players are busy with the T20 World Cup and the overseas players are yet to join the WBBL, the ongoing T20 Spring challenge has seen opportunities for a number of upcoming players to be a part of the squads. For example, 15-year-old all-rounder Caoimhe Bray has already impressed with her performance at the Sydney Sixers after an amazing outing for Australia Under-19s earlier in the month.
What is Spring Challenge?
Hobart Hurricanes kicked off their campaign on October 11 where they faced a defeat at the hands of Melbourne Renegades. They bounced back quickly and registered two wins in succession, beating Adelaide Strikers on Saturday and Perth Scorchers on Monday. They will play a final league stage fixture against ACT Meteors, scheduled for Wednesday. With four points, they currently sit second on the points table, tied with table toppers Brisbane Heat and third-place holders Meteors.
It is noteworthy that the Spring Challenge was brought forth to compensate for the reduction of games in the WBBL which will be played across a regular season of 40 games. The tournament was initially conceived as a state competition but New South Wales and Victoria pressurised which saw it being aligned with the WBBL clubs.
After Tayla Vlaeminck sustained an injury during one of Australia’s group-stage fixtures at the Women’s T20 World Cup, Heather Graham was dispatched to replace her – leaving a vacant spot in Hobart Hurricanes that will now be filled with a 13-year-old! Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
