Nationals next step for Zoe

Port Hedland young athlete Zoe Britcliffe has been selected in the Western Australian Cricket Association’s under- 18s women’s development squad.

Players are selected from a talent pool across the State for three categories — under-18s, under-13s, and under-15s.

Those selected are now gearing up to compete at the 2017-18 National Championships later in the year, which draws a line of experienced players.

The development program will help provide a mix of skill development, strength and conditioning, nutrition, education workshops and mental training.

Zoe has a goal to make the State squad, which could lead her to the Fury or Scorchers.

“At the end of this term I’m heading down to Perth to go to boarding school so I can train with the under-18 development squad since I made it about a month ago,” she said.

“I’ve been living country all my life. Then to go to the city ... it’s pretty surreal.

“There was a weekend where we did two games of cricket a day, just basically showing off our skills with the hope of being noticed and I obviously did pretty well.

“I’m stoked — it still hasn’t quite hit me yet. More girls in Hedland need to get into it — it’s fun.

“I’ve been playing with the boys, but if we could get more girls we could get a girls’ comp going.”

The under-18 program runs from July-November, with 20 players named, to be trimmed to 13 for the Nationals.