A local cricket prodigy is headed for Sri Lanka to test her might against some of the best emerging female cricketers on the international stage.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Ballarat wicket keeper Emma Lynch is one of 14 members from Cricket Victoria's High Performance Academy Squad selected to take part in the tour which begins on April 17. Held across 12 days, the group will play eight games against some of the best up and coming talent in the nation.
The 21-year-old said it would be a valuable experience for girls trying to make a name for themselves in cricket. She said Sri Lanka's emerging female talent put the world on notice in the last world cup and would make for some tough competition.
"Its going to be a ripping experience and I cant wait to get over there and get our teeth sunk into it," she said.
"We are quite a young team but we are very talented across the board and we've got some really good leaders coming away on the trip with us that will no doubt guide us."
The group will be bolstered by three members from the Victoria Spirit on tour of the nation, including high profile players Rhiann O'Donnell and Makinley Blows. Lynch said the squad was young but boasted great talent across the board.
She said the opportunity to watch how professional players go about their preparation will be a great benefit in what will be her first taste of international competition.
"It will give them a great chance to showcase their leadership and learn what its like to be on an overseas tour," she said.
"Our coaches are all fantastic, so I think we'll go alright and definitely hold our own."
The tour will be held across a series of world class venues, including the famous Galle International Stadium. Widely considered among the most picturesque grounds in the world, Lynch said the experience of stepping foot on the oval will likely be the highlight of the trip.
"It will certainly be a very big honor, not too many women players get to play there let alone a touring party from Australia, so that is really exciting and it means I'm going in the right direction with my cricket," she said.
Formerly a junior with East Ballarat CC, Lynch has since relocated to Melbourne where she is playing club cricket for Ringwood Cricket Club. Fresh off her first season with the academy, she hopes to garner selection into the professional ranks in the coming years.
"A few girls from the academy have been picked for the Victoria Spirit Squad so its certainly a good stepping stone," she said.
Emma Lynch will return to Australia after the tour wraps up on April 29.