If Lucy Hamilton is handed her Baggy Green on the WACA Ground on Friday, it will likely be the most recent step in what has been a meteoric rise for the teenage quick bowler – however do not anticipate the Queenslander to be overawed by the event.
The unflappable left-armer instantly checked out house on her ODI debut in Hobart final Sunday, unsettling the India top-order in a spell that, whereas wicketless, was filled with promise.
Hamilton was initially drafted into the Test squad as a reserve quick bowler, however Kim Garth’s quad damage has opened the door for a debut, the place she is more likely to share the brand new pink ball with Darcie Brown.
“I thought she was unreal,” Beth Mooney mentioned of Hamilton’s one-day debut.
“I first thought she was a bit stiff, not getting a wicket.
“She definitely rushed the batters a bit bit, actually made them play the ball, they weren’t certain if it was going to swing in or go throughout them.
“She’s bowled a bit bit to me, and is definitely very difficult, so I feel the tempo and the bounce of the WACA will swimsuit her.
“If she does debut, she seems pretty chill. I don’t think she’ll be too overawed by the occasion.”
While she is simply 19 years previous, Hamilton’s cricketing resume is already brimming with achievements.
One of 4 youngsters, Hamilton found her aptitude for quick bowling taking part in in opposition to the boys in her native Bundaberg, rapidly capturing the eye of scouts earlier than she made her senior debut for Queensland at age 15.
By 17, she had a state contract and, as her dad and mom recalled on broadcast following her debut, spent her first Queensland paycheck on a tinny.
Hamilton made headlines across the nation when she claimed a record-equalling 5-8 for Brisbane Heat in 2024 – whereas her schoolmates have been celebrating schoolies – and shortly after, her quiet confidence and cricketing smarts noticed her named Australia captain for the 2025 Under-19 World Cup.
Early final yr, she made the transfer to Brisbane full-time, and after making ad-hoc WBBL appearances over her first couple of season in teal, took on a key function main the Brisbane Heat assault in WBBL|11.
“Last year was my first full preseason, which was really exciting, just to get down be amongst the girls 24/7, and live in the professional environment,” Hamilton instructed cricket.com.au.
“I feel understanding that you simply get the belief out of your state groups, and Brisbane Heat to open the bowling each sport, and going from final yr to taking part in every so often round college, after which getting within the full-time skilled setting and taking part in each sport … it was a extremely massive privilege.
“To be running out there with alongside Jess Jonassen, Georgia Redmayne, and everyone knowing that they back you, it was really special.”
Teammates and coaches alike consider the sky if the restrict for Hamilton, who batted within the top-order at that U19 World Cup and who feasibly may someday observe the Ellyse Perry and Annabel Sutherland route from specialist fast to bonafide allrounder.
She confirmed glimpses of that potential throughout her first foray into the Women’s Premier League in India in January – picked up by Delhi Capitals, she hit he made 36 off 19 balls on debut.
Upon her return from India, Hamilton received the decision from nationwide selector Shawn Flegler informing her that she had been chosen within the squad for the day-night Test in Perth.
“It’s been super exciting to be added to the squad, having the opportunity to train around all these really professional athletes, it’s just been an honour and definitely a dream come true,” Hamilton mentioned.
Suddenly, Hamilton’s coaching schedule took on a distinct look, bowling extra overs than ever within the nets to arrange her physique for a possible Test debut.
“It was a lot of long bowling sessions in the nets to no one, to be honest, because the Queensland Fire girls had a bit of time off,” she continued.
“It was interesting to get your body prepped for a Test match … but knowing that it’ll (hopefully) be rewarded at the end.”
NRMA Insurance Australia v India Multi-Format Series
Australia lead the multi-format collection 8-4
February 15: First T20: India won by 21 runs (DLS)
February 19: Second T20: Australia won by 19 runs
February 21: Third T20: India won by 17 runs
February 24: First ODI: Australia won by six wickets
February 27: Second ODI: Australia won by five wickets
March 1: Third ODI: Australia won by 185 runs
Australia Test squad: Alyssa Healy (c), Darcie Brown, Maitlan Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Lucy Hamilton, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ellyse Perry, Annabel Sutherland, Rachel Trenaman, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham
India Test squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Deepti Sharma, Kashvee Gautam, Sneh Rana, Amanjot Kaur, Uma Chetry, Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Kranti Gaud, Vaishnavi Sharma, Sayali Satghare
March 6-9: Test match, WACA Ground, 4:20pm AEDT (D/N)
