Teenage Campbelltown Camden Ghosts fast bowler Belinda Vakarewa could make her international debut in next month’s Women’s World Cup in the United Kingdom.
Vakarewa, 19, has been named in Australia’s final 15-player squad for the 2017 World Cup.
She is the third Ghosts player to win selection in the national women’s team, the Southern Stars.
The young bowler has only been playing three seasons for the Ghosts in the Brewer Shield and only made her debut for NSW last October.
Selection has capped a meteoric rise for Vakarewa, who has always been destined to reach the top of women’s cricket.
“I still can’t believe it, it seems so surreal,’’ Vakarewa told cricket.com.au after she got the good news.
“I got the call and I couldn’t believe it, I went straight to tell mum and went crazy,’’ she said.
Vakarewa impressed the cricket hierarchy during the Australia A tour of Sri Lanka in April, which came off the back of a successful summer for her with the Breakers and for Sydney Thunder.
“It’s a new learning curve, another new experience,’’ Vakarewa told cricket.com.au after learning that she would be heading to England with the national team for a World Cup, no less.
“I’ve never played in England before but I’ve heard there’s a lot of movement in the wickets, so I’m excited to find out.’’
As for the Campbelltown Camden Ghosts, the selection of Vakarewa in the Southern Stars for such a big tournament will be just another reason to celebrate when they hold their annual presentation night this Saturday at Wests Leagues Leumeah.
After a summer season when the focus was on building a young team in the Sydney grade competition, it will be a change to talk about national selection for one of their own.
