Ballarat star indoor cricketer Briony Polkinghorne has been selected to represent Australia at the Dubai World Cup in September.
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This year’s World Cup will be the third time Polkinghorne has represented at national level. But she is not the only Ballarat flavour in the side. Laura Shaw, who now lives in Melbourne, studied at Ballarat’s Federation University for four years while Nicole Martin coaches the Central Highlands team – the trio being the only Victorian representatives.
Polkinghorne said it was a great honour to play against the world’s best players.
“To play with and against the best players in the world is something I always dreamed of doing and I’ve been fortunate enough to do it a couple of times now,” Polkinghorne said.
She was also awarded the International Women’s Player of the Year following an outstanding international tour and 2016 national titles.
Polkinghorne arrived home on Monday after a strong display at the latest national titles. The Victorian team were denied its third successive victory by Queensland, who were too good in the final. Polkinghorne said while the individual accolades were humbling, she said team success brought her the greatest pride.
“It’s not something you play for obviously, you play to win the nationals, but it’s another feather in the cap.”
The Australian team only gets one opportunity to train together in the lead-up to the tournament, but it will head over a week early for a training camp.
The group is already very familiar with each other given it boasts seven World Cup members from the 2014 team.
Polkinghorne, 35, was not sure if this would be her last World Cup, but will stay focused on this year.
“As I get older, it gets harder. My mind probably says yes, but I’m not sure what my body says.”
Ballarat’s Nathan Mahar was selected in the Lord’s Taverners all-star team from Victoria’s intellectual disability side.
To play with and against the best players in the world is something I always dreamed of doing and I’ve been fortunate enough to do it a couple of times now.
- Briony Polkinghorne