It has just been over a year that Lucy O’Reilly stepped in her teenage shoes and when girls of her age are usually occupied with the development of fashion sense and musical records, the 14-year-old is making her country Ireland proud by taking up a different path.
Lucy has certainly made her father proud, former Irish cricketer Peter O'Reilly, and not only that she is also the youngest cricketer to make debut in World Twenty20.
“It’s really great to represent my country and it is special for me that I got to achieve that very young. But like everyone, I’m here to win game,” said Lucy to Dhaka Tribune yesterday.
It was easy for someone to distinguish the all-rounder when Ireland played against Australia yesterday and it wasn’t only for her infantile age and look, but her approach in the world stage. She has at least six teammates double her age with Clare Shillington, 19 years older, the oldest among them and Lucy said she learns a lot from them.
“We all are a part of the team, we play as a team. There are also so many young players in the squad. I learn a lot from them,” said Lucy the right-handed batsman cum medium pacer.
Women’s cricket is slowly developing around the world and it is expected that a one takes it up as a career from her childhood. Ireland seems to be a perfect breeding place for such as it isn’t only Lucy, there is also Elena Tice who began her career at an even younger age.
Lucy admires Elena and also admitted to get in the game encouraged by seeing her play. “We came to the game with the same experience and I would say I learned a lot from her.”
Elena, 16, made her international debut at the age of 13. The leg spinner Elena, who took the first wicket against Australia yesterday, is the second youngest cricketer ever to play in an international match, behind Pakistani spinner Sajjida Shah. Sajjida made her debut aged just 12 years and 271 days against Ireland in July 2000 while Elena made it to the international level at 13 years and 272 days through a Twenty20 match on August 15, and played her first ODI at the same venue two days later.
Elena lived in Vienna when she was six and featured for the Austria Cricket Club for around three years. With her older brother Patrick, who is a wicketkeeper and part of Ireland's Under-19 set-up, the two often played in the same team until the family moved back to Ireland.