Jersey star hopes Australia spell helps her career

Travelling more than 10,000 miles to follow your dream is a journey many teenagers might think is too long.

But Jersey cricketer Grace Wetherall is hoping she can become a professional in England having developed her game down under.

The 19-year-old big hitting all-rounder has joined the Sydney-based International Cricket Programme - training Monday to Friday while also playing grade cricket with North Sydney Bears.

"I knew quite a few people that had already done it and they said it was one of the best things they had done and their game had massively improved from it," she tells BBC Sport.

"So for me it was kind of a no-brainer - I get to be in Australia for six months but also help my cricket improve.

"Hearing the experiences that they had just made me more set on wanting to come really."

Wetherall is a regular fixture in the Channel Island's international side - she made her debut for the island's senior team aged just 12 in 2019 and has gone on to play in 44 T20 internationals.

However, mainly playing 20-over cricket for the island had led to Wetherall - who averages just under 25 runs an innings for Jersey - playing in a certain style.

But she says her move to Australia, where she plays 50-over matches, has added a new dimension to her game:

"I think it's really improved my batting and my mindset knowing that going in, I can't get out early because I've still got 50 overs to bat.

"So a mindset is like 'first 20 runs all on the floor', I've actually learned how to defend a ball.

"I had played a lot of T10, and then when I was going in with the 20-over stuff, I was going in the last couple of overs, so all I've ever known is see ball, hit it out the ground type thing.

"So being able to go in and go 'I've still got 30 overs to bat, I'm actually going to take care of my wicket', learning to defend the ball was actually something that came to good use."

This summer, the island's men's side came agonisingly close to qualifying for next year's T20 World Cup.

Meanwhile Jersey's women failed to progress in qualifying for the past two T20 World Cups - twice finishing third in the second tier of European qualifying.

Wetherall says the island side have the talent, it is just up to players having the chances to improve:

"You look at the teams that did qualify, they're all training all the time.

"I understand that's not possible for some people due to work commitments and school, but all it takes is going to the gym and doing that run as well, that's also still putting in the work.

"I think for Jersey, for the women, it is something achievable for us to get to the Division One qualifiers and I know it's something that is definitely in the works for us.

"I think we've got a strong enough team to do it, we just don't play enough together.

"We have the talent I think, and we have the bond within the team. we just need to put that on to the pitch."

To that end, Wetherall's long-term aim is to return to the northern hemisphere in 2026 and pursue the chance to try to play professionally in England.

She has already experience with Wiltshire in the lower tiers of the English county game and is hopeful she can follow fellow islander Asa Tribe, who has become one of Glamorgan's stars and is touring with England Lions in Australia this winter.

"Seeing him score runs, I definitely think it's possible," she says.

"But that also didn't just come off Asa training once a week and not putting in any effort.

"I know that he put his heart and soul into cricket and that's how he got there, that's inspired me to put my heart and soul into cricket completely.

"I go to bed, I wake up, I play cricket and I repeat that, and if I keep doing that, hopefully I can follow the same path he followed."