Sport
3 January, 2024
Allira's top 20 pitch at country championships
VERSATILE junior cricketer Allira James has stamped herself in the top tier of junior Victorian country cricketers. The 14-year-old Serpentine player last week helped take the Northern Rivers representative side to second place at the Cricket...
VERSATILE junior cricketer Allira James has stamped herself in the top tier of junior Victorian country cricketers.
The 14-year-old Serpentine player last week helped take the Northern Rivers representative side to second place at the Cricket Victoria Country Cup tournament in Albury.
In her second year of cricket and earning selection despite not having played a game since August last year when she ruptured her ACL playing netball for Bears Lagoon Serpentine, Allira finished the tournament in country Victoria’s top 20 with bat and ball.
Allira was ninth on the bowling table and 12th with the bat. A right-arm fast bowler, Allira finished with 3-15 in the tournament’s second game.
“I enjoy batting, bowling and fielding,” Allira said on Tuesday as she prepares for another big fortnight of representative cricket.
She will be one of the youngest players in the Bendigo association side competing in Bendigo Country Week starting next Tuesday and then following up in the country cup finals in Melbourne on January 7. And Allira has just been selected to train with Melbourne Premier League women’s club Plenty Valley.
“I hope to gain selection in the Plenty Valley side this season,” she said.
“I am travelling down to Melbourne for training twice a week.”
Allira started playing cricket three years ago. “My brother Lachlan was with the Bendigo club’s under 14 side and they suggested I might like to have a go and I had been part of the Masterblasters under 12 program.
“At first I said no and decided, why not and then was selected to play in the under 14 girls’ side at Country Week.”
The East Loddon P12 College student, who starts Year 9 in 2024, sees future development as a cricketer.
“I’ve played goal defence and goalkeeper in netball ... but cricket might take over as the sport (for me),” she said.
Allira hopes her form at Country Week will build on achievements of recent weeks with bat and ball.
Said mum Nicky: “We think her achievements are pretty impressive given her age and the devastating ACL injury and think her story might encourage other young girls to chase their dreams, even after significant setbacks.”