Seventh heaven as Campbell eyes Ashes berth

Stella Campbell was just thrilled to have bettered her previous best domestic 50-over haul.

She had no idea the 7-25 she captured across eight overs at Manuka Oval last week actually represented the second-best performance in the 25-year history of the Women's National Cricket League.

The 19-year-old fast bowler was still wrapping her head around the performance when she spoke to cricket.com.au in the immediate aftermath of her stunning display, which paved the way to a 207-run win for her NSW Breakers over the ACT Meteors last Thursday.

"I'm still in shock," Campbell said soon after taking the final wicket that saw the Meteors bowled out for 53.

"I think it hasn't really sunk in.

"I just wanted to be as clear as I could (in my plans), we looked at the wicket and we knew that it had a bit of nip and a bit of pace in it … and if I was able to just run in and hit my areas, we know that there was going to be opportunities for wickets there.

"After the game our coach Gavin mentioned to me my previous best for the Breakers had been a three-fa so to be able to say I've taken seven is quite surreal."

Only Victoria's Stephanie Theodore has produced better figures in the WNCL, capturing 7-14 against Western Australia in 1998.

Campbell could hardly have timed her run better; Australia will meet England in a one-off Ashes Test at Manuka Oval later this month, and the first of the three ODIs will also be played at the Canberra venue.

The right-armer is likely to be battling speedsters Tayla Vlaeminck, Darcie Brown and Annabel Sutherland for a berth in the Test XI.

She made her debut in the Baggy Green against India last September, but that opportunity came with the highly rated Vlaeminck sidelined through injury, and with spearhead Megan Schutt unavailable.

Nonetheless, she could not have done more to put her name forward for selection, and her timing was perfect, with the national selectors meeting over the weekend to determine their Ashes squad, which will be named on Wednesday.

Campbell had missed the opening game of NSW's WNCL season after being a close contact of a COVID-19 case, but returned for their second game against Victoria two days later, taking 2-50.

Her final chance to impress was scuppered when Sunday's WNCL clash, also due to be against the ACT at Manuka, was postponed due to COVID cases in the Meteors camp.

"That's something that's in the back of my mind, future honours are something that I'd love to be a part of," Campbell said.

"To be able to put my hand up was really cool and I'm glad that (skipper) Rach Haynes kept me on and kept me bowling."

After a busy season to date that also included an ODI debut against India, and a three-month period on the road between that international series and the WBBL that followed, Campbell said she had been refreshed by the break that followed the 20-over tournament.

"I was away from home for three months, the longest I've ever been on the road, so to have a bit of time at home and off feet to give the body a rest was really nice," she said.

"I've come back into this year feeling really fresh and good to go.

"After the Christmas break and into the New Year, all the girls were just itching to get out there, so to be able to come down to Canberra and put out a performance like that, we're all really happy."

Campbell and her WNCL counterparts have watched the way COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on the KFC BBL, and given the opportunities looming in the next fortnight with Australia and Australia A, they are taking what steps they can to reduce the risk of exposure.

"We want to make sure that we're not sort of out in the community too much," Campbell said.

"We just want to limit our risk of catching the virus because that's obviously been pretty hampering to teams at the moment. It's a sacrifice that we've had to make."

Commonwealth Bank Women's Ashes v England

Jan 20: First T20, Adelaide Oval

Jan 22: Second T20, Adelaide Oval

Jan 23: Third T20, Adelaide Oval

Jan 27-30: Test match, Manuka Oval

Feb 3: First ODI, Manuka Oval

Feb 6: Second ODI, Junction Oval

Feb 8: Third ODI, Junction Oval

Australia A v England A

Jan 20: First T20, Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide

Jan 21: Second T20, Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide

Jan 23: Third T20, Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide

Jan 28: First OD, Philip Oval, Canberra

Jan 30: Second OD, Philip Oval, Canberra

Feb 2: Third OD, Philip Oval, Canberra