Phoebe Litchfield is among the rising stars of Australian ladies’s cricket and {the teenager} revealed she had not too long ago modelled her recreation on nationwide teammate Beth Mooney.
Fellow left-hander Mooney, one of many world’s greatest batters, introduced Litchfield together with her ODI debut cap earlier than the 19-year-old made an unbeaten 78 off 92 balls within the eight-wicket win over Pakistan in Brisbane on Monday.
The pair opened within the run chase however Mooney was quickly out for one.
Litchfield went on with it and mixed with captain Meg Lanning (67 off 76) to steer Australia to victory in an innings Mooney would have been happy with.
Litchfield credit her father Andrew for giving her a technical grounding in cricket however Mooney, the grasp of pacing a run chase, has supplied her with a batting blueprint.
“In recent times I have looked to Beth Mooney, especially in the T20 game and the way she goes about it,” Litchfield mentioned.
“She doesn’t need to bash sixes and fours. She just goes about it and accumulates, so I have taken some inspiration off her.
“I feel I’ve improved my temperament and in addition my energy recreation. I used to be a ‘nurdeler’ in my first few years. I’d glide it to 3rd (man) and (rating) lots of runs behind the wicket so I’ve labored on that.
“Temperament (wise)…leaving balls today, I probably would have lashed at one in the first over if it was the old me.”
Litchfield constructed her innings fantastically.
She grafted early and punished solely unfastened deliveries earlier than unleashing on the finish of her knock, lofting one drive cleanly over mid-off for six with aplomb.
It was becoming that stalwart Mooney had made the cap presentation, the place she had ready a speech and mentioned loads of constructive issues concerning the debutant.
“It was so sweet and she gave me the (speech) notes. I’ve got that in my cricket kit and I reckon that will stay in there for the entirety of hopefully a long career,” Litchfield mentioned.
The not too long ago retired Rachael Haynes and injured Alyssa Healy opened within the final ODI Australia had performed on the ODI World Cup final 12 months.
Litchfield is humble about her future prospects forward of the T20 World Cup the place she’s going to tour South Africa with Healy on her return from a calf harm.
“With Alyssa Healy’s injury there is a spot at the top of the order and I put my hand up but you look at Midge (Healy) and Mooney’s success, and even Rachael’s success, and I am not looking to disrupt that,” she mentioned.
“I am happy to run drinks for a long time. I am just happy to be around this group. If there is an opportunity I’ll take it but I will be pretty happy to see Midge back.”
