Follow UsPhoebe Litchfield was JUST 16 when she went viral on the internet.
Ten deliveries into her Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) debut, the left-handed batter moved across the crease and nonchalantly scooped Hayley Silver-Holmes for a four. It was not a shot, it was a statement that the left-hander was here to stay.
“I guess it was a bit of naivety, young passion and energy. We were getting found in that game, and all that I was thinking was, ‘How can I get a boundary?’ That’s all I knew at that age: to open up the field and play a ramp,” Litchfield told Cricket.com in an exclusive chat.
But that naivety and passion are unending in her fifth year of professional cricket at the highest level. While the outside world recognised that the 16-year-old was god-gifted, her father, Andrew, who heads Cricket NSW’s western region female academy, realised the talent when Litchfield was five.
Since then, Litchfield has dabbled in multiple sports, finding home in hockey and cricket. While she wasn’t playing grade cricket with men, she was playing hockey, where she represented the national under-16 team.
However, there was a bit of worry. Litchfield, who was a natural left-hander, had to hold the hockey stick right-handed and also rewire her entire brain to use more of her weaker side. What it did do to the 15-year-old was improve her wrist.
“Yeah, definitely, my [Litchfield’s] hockey background certainly helped me in cricket. My wrists improved, and, you know, you have to play hockey right-handed; playing a sport right-handed also helped me do my switches as a left-handed batter,” the Gujarat batter looked back.
It is only natural that the art of switching has transcended into cricket, where she has made that shot her own in international cricket. Across 19 innings in WT20Is, the left-hander has dominated bowling units, courtesy of acing the reverse sweeps (50 off 24 balls) and switch hits (11 off 6).
There aren’t many active cricketers who find uncanny gaps in the field as Litchfield. So, where does that come from?
“I think in terms of playing reverses and ramps, it is pretty much, as a young kid, I always practised it and played it in games. I think that bravery comes from practice, and I can believe in myself when I play those kinds of shots,” Litchfield talked about the shot.
“Sometimes, when I get out playing that, it looks ridiculous, and I probably have to rethink my game plans. I love playing those shots, it adds another aspect to my game and opens the field up in places that other players can’t. It also offers another boundary option, just as any other batter.”
In terms of strike rate, only Beth Mooney (176.4) and Grace Harris (175.6) have fared better at the death overs (16-20) than Litchfield (174.2) since her WT20I debut. But the difference is that Litchfield comes out to bat during that, where she has to take off immediately, which makes both the average (81) and strike rate (174.2) commendable.
Even the fiercest of finishers in world cricket - Richa Ghosh (3.7) - can’t find boundaries as frequently as the left-hander, who finds the boundary cushion once every 3.6 deliveries. What’s the secret behind all of this? Just security.
“The Australian team have backed me in 100%,” Litchfield said.
“They know how I play, and sometimes it is a risky form of cricket. They have exclusively told me that they want me to play the way I play, express myself, play my shots, and score runs for the team. They don’t really matter how I do that,” she added.
Unfortunately, the ongoing edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) hasn’t been that kind for Litchfield. The 21-year-old has spent most of her season warming the bench, only playing one game for Gujarat Giants. It is one of those bane that come with franchise cricket, where you must play your four best players.
But Litchfield was doing all the right things off the pitch: training hard, mentally preparing for an opportunity, and running the drinks.
“Franchise cricket is hard, in that sense, you got six internationals trying to fit in four overseas spots. Came into the season knowing that I would be running drinks, so it was all about contributing to the team,” the left-hander said.
“I just had to do the right things off the ground, train well, practise well and be ready for the opportunity. You never know when a player might go down, or you might get your opportunity. I was ready, but I couldn’t make use of it last night. Hopefully, I can have good performances later.”
On February 25 (Tuesday), the left-hander got her first opportunity of the year because she offered a point of difference to this Gujarat batting setup: a left-hander. In her second WPL game against RCB this year, Litchfield proved why she makes the Gujarat setup more potent with a 21-ball 30, where she smacked three fours and a six, showing her range and finding boundaries where others struggle.
“It is a good thing actually to be able to bat in every position and be versatile as an opener and a middle-order batter. It adds more strings to your bow, I think. It doesn’t change a whole lot in T20 cricket; the aim is to go out there and score as many runs as possible in the overs I get,” the Australian batter said.
“No matter where I bat, I just try doing that. The only challenge is playing the new ball at 1, 2 or 3. But playing one-day format has taught me how to play for the new ball. When you bat at No.5, you just go, ‘Okay, the top-order has done their job, I come in and have a party’.”
That’s where specific training and knowing her strength has come to Litchfield’s rescue.
“A bit of both; training is a massive thing, getting in front of the new ball, and going okay, I’m starting my innings and role-playing it,” she said.
“It is also looking at the bowlers that you are going to face, and how you are going to score against them, knowing what shots are on, you are not going to hit Shabs [Shabnim Ismail] down the ground because it is a tough shot. Knowing your strength while still being able to go and express yourself.”
Life has certainly been a roller coaster for Litchfield, who, at 16, was announced as the next big thing in women’s cricket. Over three years of her international career, the Australian batter has seen it all, ups and downs, both in equal measure. But her refreshing outlook on life, far less crazy than her batting, has undoubtedly made that 16-year-old mighty proud.
So, how does she manage to keep all of it grounded?
“It is really difficult when you are caught up in the moment. The crowds are screaming, and usually in India, we are copping the brunt of it because we are playing against the home team, and they are all cheering for India,” Litchfield said.
“I kind of look back at a 16-year-old or 14-year-old Phoebe playing in the backyard going ‘This is a cool experience’ and relishing that. Just realised how cool this experience is; 10 years ago, you wouldn’t even have as many people watching. Pretty much just enjoying it,” she adds.
In six months, Litchfield will be living her dream, turning a new page in the Australian colours out at the grandest of stages - the ODI World Cup. Even before she can get to that stage, she’s slowly noting the minutest details of how the different conditions in India could get.
“For sure, being able to play in India and experience the conditions across multiple venues, the conditions in Baroda, compared to Bangalore, have all been different. So, it is just about taking those mental notes here and there,” Litchfield said.
Maybe this time, she won’t make the rookie mistake of leaving behind her camera and all the different kits. When around 40,000 people turn up day in and day out during the Women’s ODI World Cup, Litchfield might just complete her side project, filming it to the intricacies.
But rest assured, what will turn up in all bubbliness and positivity is Phoebe Litchfield in the Australian yellow.