FORMER Kapunda High School student Darcie Brown continues to go from strength-to-strength, and after recently winning the Women’s Big Bash League Young Gun award, she is now the youngest player in the Australian national team squad set to tour New Zealand later this month.
Brown, who turns 18 next week, is one of the fastest bowling women in the world already having been clocked at over 120km/h – and said she’d like to get even quicker.
“It feels like every time we officially measure it gets a little quicker, so I’d like to think I’ve got a bit more in me,” she said.
“The first time I got clocked was when I was 12 or 13 years old, and I was bowling 98 then, and it’s kept gradually progressing from there – I’m nearly 18 now, so maybe I’ll stop growing, but who knows.”
Brown will join an Australian squad that features Australian cricketing legends Elyse Perry and Meg Lanning, and she said it still feels surreal.
“We won’t get to train as a team until we’re in New Zealand, so I don’t think it’s really sunk in yet,” she said.
“I really started watching women’s cricket three or four years ago, and a lot of those girls are still playing now, so to be able to get in the same nets as them and be able to watch up close and learn is still pretty surreal.”
While the past couple of years has been a whirlwind for Brown, she said she doesn’t really have any ‘big picture’ plans, and instead wants to simply enjoy the ride.
“Everything’s moved so quickly, but I just try to live in the moment and not worry about what’s going to happen,” she said.
“I can’t really control a lot of it, so I just try and do my best and have as much fun as I can for as long as I can.
“I really didn’t expect all of this to happen the way it has, so I don’t actually have many goals – I try not to put too many expectations on myself and just make sure I’m doing my best and having fun.”
Brown was also recently the recipient of both Henley High School’s Sports Person of the Year, and took out the Individual Secondary School category of the 2020 SA School Sports Awards as the top high school sportsperson in the state.
Henley High School assistant principal and director of sport Sammy Nutt said Brown was everything the school looks for in its award winner, and pointed out that she is much more than just a cricketer.
“Darcie has been an exceptional student athlete, excelling in both her academic and athletic pursuits,”
she said.
“Since beginning at Henley, Darcie has represented the school in knockout netball, A-grade athletics, Nitro athletics, Ekiden Relay, with open cricket and football whilst playing A-grade district cricket and representing South Australia in U17 netball and U18
cricket.
“Her school accolades are numerous and can be contributed to her drive to succeed, meticulous nature to leave no stone unturned, and her ability to seek support from family, coaches, teachers and friends.”
The Australian tour of New Zealand kicks off with a T20 fixture at Hamilton on March 28.