Barty's cricket career off to a flying start

Four months ago, former professional tennis player Ash Barty picked up a cricket bat and headed into the nets for her first training session.

Now the 19-year-old is not only in line to make her debut for Queensland this weekend, she has also been asked to coach a junior Cricket Australia XI in Hobart next week.

Barty, who was ranked No.129 in the world in singles and won the Wimbledon Girls championship in 2011, has signed with the Brisbane Heat for the inaugural Women’s Big Bash League.

She’s already proved quick to adapt to her new sport since she started training with the Konica Minolta Queensland Fire in July, scoring two half-centuries for Western Suburbs in Brisbane’s Women’s Premier Cricket competition.

Named in the Fire’s squad for their final two Women’s National Cricket League matches this weekend, Barty could make her debut when Queensland play either South Australia or Western Australia in Adelaide.

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Eager to make the most of Barty’s expertise in the professional arena and to help the Ipswich product develop her cricket knowledge, Cricket Australia have enlisted her services to mentor a CA XI in next week’s Under-15 National Female Championships, where she will work alongside former Australian player and current Tasmania Roar coach Julia Price.

"She is a professional player and she’s also an experienced tennis coach, so we’re hoping to be able to utilise her skills, including skill acquisition in other sports, managing your mental state, setting goals, the things that are consistent across sports,” Cricket Australia team performance senior manager Belinda Clark told cricket.com.au.

"She’ll also get an opportunity to see the game from the other side of the boundary, which is different to sitting as a spectator.

"We’ve got Julia Price sitting alongside her to facilitate her learning, so it’s a win-win."

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While Barty enjoyed watching cricket while she was growing up, being on the road playing tennis from the age of 13 did not allow much time to dabble in other sports.

"Having not really played before when I was young, it was an opportunity for me to learn and grow as a player and also as a coach," Barty told cricket.com.au.

"I’ve had a lot of experience coaching young girls from my tennis and I think some of the management skills cross.

"There are a lot of intricacies which are very unique to cricket and I’m learning those along the way and hopefully I can give something to the girls from my experience playing as a professional athlete.”

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After opting to take a break from tennis late last year, Barty said she was relishing the challenge of learning a new game.

Her interest was sparked when she spoke to the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars at a training camp earlier this year and now she is enjoying the novelty of being part of a team.

"I’m absolutely loving it. I’m really just soaking it all up and trying to enjoy it as much as I can.

"The girls have really looked after me. They embraced me straight and that made the transition very easy."

So far Barty as scored 63 not out and 53 in club cricket and while batting is her focus for the time being, she has also been taking the opportunity to roll her arm when possible as well.

"At this stage I’m a batter, but I’d like to be able to contribute in other areas. I’m rolling the arm over a little in club, but at this stage I’m just working on my batting and trying to do as much as I can in the field."

'A little' bit of bowling has seen Barty snare six wickets at 16.33 this season.

These performances are sure to have the Brisbane Heat excited ahead of their WBBL opener against the Melbourne Stars at Junction Oval on December 5.

"It’s exciting. We’re under a month away now and it’s great the Brisbane Heat can open up the competition in the first ever game."

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