A mother and daughter are delivering a potent one-two punch for Altona Roosters in women’s cricket’s north-west division.
Helen Harris, 53, and daughter Breannan, 23, of Point Cook, are key cogs for the finals-hunting Roosters.
While they share a like-minded passion for cricket, the team benefits from their totally contrasting skills.
Helen tops the competition batting aggregate with more than 400 runs, while Breannan went into the new year as the competition’s leading wicket-taker with 15, although she has since fallen to third.
“I didn’t actually realise I was leading the whole comp,” Breannan said.
“I thought mum would be up there but there are quite a lot of good batters in the competition.
“That goes to show how incredible a batter she is and her age is irrelevant.”
Breannan admits she hated cricket when she used to watch her mum on weekends but when she was 10 she joined a team and became hooked on the sport.
“They were starting a junior girls team’ at Altona North Cricket Club and mum made me go along,” Breannan said.
“I didn’t want to but I went along [and] from then on I just loved it. I played in the junior girls’ team and the senior ladies team when I was 10.”
Helen was the club captain at Altona North at the time. Fast forward to today and Breannan now captains the Roosters.
Helen, meanwhile, continues to maintain a high standard of play.
She has smashed 431 runs at 47 this season, including a century against Spotswood in round two.
And as wicketkeeper, she has three catches and five stumping, having a profound impact.
Breannan paid tribute to her mother’s preparation and willingness to stay in shape.
“She has a personal trainer twice a week, she trains for cricket on Thursday night and then plays on Sunday,” Breannan said.
“She works hard at keeping her fitness. We weren’t blessed with amazing natural talent, but we’ve always worked hard at our cricket.”
Helen is not one for adulation, preferring to focus on the team aspects, and when she makes a big score she is reticent to express her joy. “If we’re clapping on the sidelines, she ignores it and doesn’t want to raise her bat,” Breannan said.
“She’s like ‘let’s get on with the game’.”
Breannan can graft out a good score with the bat, but she isn’t yet a shadow of her mum.
Her craft is spin bowling and with 15 wickets at 16.2, she is one of the best in the competition.
“I’ve been able to bat with her this season, which has been really good,” she said.
“I do my best to make runs but I’ve never been as good as her.”
The Roosters are sitting in the top four and have finals in their sights.
The club is looking to grow its women’s section next summer with interest booming since the coverage of the Women’s Big Bash League on Channel 10.
“In the last couple of weeks, we’ve had a couple of girls turn up to training who have never played before and I’ve had emails looking for details,” Breannan said.
“Interest seems to have doubled since Christmas, so we’re hoping to expand next season or the season after and get two ladies’ teams.”
