Look out world. Nineteen-year-old Phoebe Litchfield is a batting monster in the making.
The teenager has gone from idolising Meg Lanning, Ellyse Perry and company to joining their ranks; said one teammate: “She will be a superstar”.
First schooled in how to wield the willow by her veterinarian father Andrew in the New South Wales country town of Orange, Litchfield has added poise and power over three years in the domestic system.
Phoebe Litchfield impressed on debut.Credit:Getty Images
Mental, physical and technical refinements to natural eyes and hands for finding the ball, plus a knack for sweeps and reverses drawn from junior hockey, are a reminder of Australia’s highly evolved women’s cricket program, of which Litchfield was a member.
Inspired at first by the right-handed pairing of Lanning and Perry, Litchfield’s more recent evolution has involved looking closely at the work of fellow lefty Beth Mooney, with whom she will open the batting for Australia in Brisbane on Wednesday. She made her ODI debut against Pakistan in Brisbane on Monday.
Since completing high school in 2021, Litchfield has relocated to Sydney and pursued cricket full-time. Those extra hours in the nets and the gym have helped smooth a method that looked close to the finished article at Allan Border Field on Monday.
“Dad and I made my technique,” Litchfield said. “I didn’t really look up to a batter as such, but in recent times I have looked to Beth Mooney, especially in the T20 game, the way she goes about it, doesn’t need to bash sixes and fours, she just goes about it and accumulates. So I’ve taken some inspiration off her.
“I think originally it was ‘get the front elbow up’, gave me a technique, but once I had that he let me go pretty free rein. Once I left Orange I had amazing coaches to work with and I’ve picked advice from everyone. I still keep evolving, but the base work is probably from Dad.
“I’ve improved my temperament and more my power game. I think I was a nurdler in my first few years, I’d glide it to third, a lot of runs behind the wicket. So I’ve worked on that, and then just temperament, like leaving the ball, I probably would’ve lashed at one first over, if it was the old me.”
In testing conditions as the ball nipped about at Allan Border Field, Litchfield was extremely composed, allowing plenty of time to see off the new ball before starting to accelerate in Lanning’s seasoned company.
Phoebe Litchfield completed her HSC during the WBBL in 2021.Credit:Ben Searcy
“She was one of my favourite players, her and Ellyse Perry,” Litchfield said of Lanning. “So to see them on the TV screen or as just an idea, to now playing with them is pretty surreal and a bit of a pinch-myself moment.
“[Lanning] is just the best batting partner. She knows exactly what to say when, and whenever I felt under pressure she either scored a four or came down the other end and gave me some words of advice.”
That counsel from Lanning added to the feeling of security and confidence Litchfield already exhibits when she takes the field. Given such enormous expectations – dating back to her entry into the NSW squad as a 16-year-old high school student in 2019 – there have been highly understandable moments of self-doubt.
But in a mirror of the feelings shared by Australian men’s captain Pat Cummins of his Australian debut as an 18-year-old in 2011, Litchfield spoke of how those nagging voices tend to disappear when she gets into the game.
“I try not to think too much about it, it probably comes on when I fail a bit more and I look back and go am I as good as everyone says I am,” she said. “But it’s just down to watching the ball. Once I go on the field it sort of goes away, which is nice.”
As far as the future is concerned, Litchfield is in no rush to stake a permanent claim to a spot in the team. She is aware that Alyssa Healy is out of this series with injury, and likewise that plenty of other cricketers are jostling for a berth. It’s a case of when, not if.
“With Alyssa Healy’s injury there’s a spot at the top of the order, and I put my hand up. But you look at ‘Midge’ and Mooney’s success and even Rach’s success and I’m not looking to disrupt that. I’m even happy to run drinks for a long time.
“I just love being around this group. If there’s an opportunity I’ll take it, but I’m pretty keen to see Midge back.”
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