The Women’s Big Bash League is a new and exciting addition to cricket in Adelaide.
We have some amazing female athletes who are now gaining the chance to showcase their talent on a national level. For those of you who don’t know T20 is a face paced version of test cricket. It goes something like this:
“If you’re batting, you have to smash as many runs as you can, as fast as you can and if you’re bowling, you have to try to stop the opposition doing exactly that!”. The team with the highest score after three hours, wins.
We chat to Adelaide Strikers captain Tegan McPharlin about how she keeps a healthy life pace both on and off the field.
You play a number of other sports off season, what was the catalyst for pursuing WBBL?
Sport is a passion of mine, but cricket has always been my number one. When they decided to follow in the footsteps of the men’s Big Bash and make our T20 competition similar, I wanted to be a part of it.
You work full time as well as travelling 190 km 3 x a week for training. What keeps you motivated?
To put it simply, my love of the game. The travel gives me a good opportunity to switch off, relax and collect my thoughts.
How do you keep yourself balanced nutritionally?
Food preparation is really important for me. I have to plan ahead and make sure I’m refueling my body at the right time with the right foods. I always have snacks on hand and plenty of water. Hydration is vital to surviving the demands of sport.
What does a day on your plate look like for a WBBL cricketer?
Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, if I have time its poached eggs but otherwise I mix up different smoothies. Lunch consists of cold meats and salad either in a sandwich or wrap. Dinner is very simple, chicken is my meat of choice with lots of vegetables and sweet potato.
What are your favorite exercises to include in your training regime?
Any exercise that I can see benefitting me, whether it power and strength work in the gym or shorter burst running.
Being an elite athlete must take a huge amount of energy both Physically and Mentally. What do you do for down time?
In keeping the balance right in my life, I find it vital to have downtime. I love to curl up on the couch with a good movie or an interesting tv series. I also enjoy catching up with family and friends.
What are your tips for staying motivated when it comes to exercise and a healthy diet?
Understand that not everybody works the same. Its about experimenting and finding what works for you. Keep it simple and be patient with results, maintain a positive attitude and reward yourself
“May cricket continue to flourish and spread its wings. The world can only be richer for it.” – Sir Donald Bradman.
This has certainly been true for Tegan and her teammates entering the fast and exciting T20 league. You can see the girls in action at Adelaide Oval from Dec – Jan. For more details head to their website here.
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