East Sunbury’s Jessica Hourigan is taking her cricket journey in her stride.
Having just turned 13, she’s starting to climb up the cricketing ranks – including joining Premier Cricket club Essendon Maribyrnong Park.
Hourigan started playing cricket when she was 10, having been down at East Sunbury with her father Mark, who was at the time the club’s senior coach.
“I started playing in under-12s as dad was helping out,” she said.
“I knew some of the boys and we’re all friends. My sister and I were the only girls. Now it’s just me.”
Playing in the Gisborne and District Cricket Association’s junior competitions, Hourigan caught the eye of Essendon Maribyrnong Park, which invited her to come down to the club.
She’s been playing for the club’s thirds side, EMP/Williamstown Congs, which plays in CV Women’s Community Cricket north-west competition, while also continuing to play for East Sunbury.
“It’s a big step, with some of the girls playing for Australia and the [Melbourne] Renegades,” the medium pace bowler said. “There’s better coaches and better players.
“Myself and one other girl, [Sunbury United’s] Kara Gifford, were invited down. We are the youngest down there. It’s fun playing with the thirds. Most of the teams, it’s their top side, where it’s our third side.”
Earlier this month Hourigan played in EMP’s second team in the Victorian Premier Cricket seconds competition. She said just being around the players at that level had been beneficial.
“I got to help them out and see how it goes – seeing how some of them bowl and bat,” she said.
“It’s good learn a few things off my coach, Karen Rolton [former Australian women’s captain and highest run scorer], with my batting. I’m not that good a batter.”
As well as making the move to a Premier Cricket club, Hourigan was selected in the Central Highlands under-14 team for the state championships, despite being bottom age.
She became the second East Sunbury player to be selected for Highlanders’ state championship side.
The Highlanders were knocked out in the semi-finals. Hourigan made 21 runs and took three wickets, including 3-5 in one game.
“It was a tough competition, but it was fun,” she said.
“It was mostly playing cricket with other girls, which is different to just playing with the boys. I was happy with finals – wasn’t expecting it.
“Coming up against tough opposition, I was happy I got a bowl and a bat and got to see what it’s like. I want come back next year and hopefully go better.
Her father, Mark, said the Central Highlands’ program, run by Campbell Wearing and the under-14 coaching panel led by Jenna Fowlie, had provided a great pathway to help with Jessica’s development.
As for the future, Hourigan is happy to continue enjoying her cricket and see where it takes her. She’d like to one day play a match with her dad at the Thunder.
“I want to work my way up at EMP and at Highlanders,” she said.
“I want to try to make the state team. I’m enjoying going out there and having fun with everyone I’m playing with.”
