World News – AU – « I hate it »: Speedster’s surprising confession

Shabnim Ismail from South Africa doesn’t have the physique of a traditional speedster, but that hasn’t stopped their terrible unfortunate battles for a decade.

Shabnim Ismail from South Africa is 165 cm tall and doesn’t have the build of a traditional bowler, but what she lacks in height is well and truly made up for by raw strength.

Ismail has been the fastest female bowler in women’s cricket for a while, and even as she enters the dawn of her career, she can still generate a lot of heat with the ball in hand.

« When I was little, I always told myself I wanted to be one of the fastest in the world, » Ismail told News. com. ouch. « I didn’t really care about consistency.

“I hate going to the gym all the time, to be honest. I just love working my upper body so it basically just takes iron when I go to the gym.

« But it’s all mental to me. I just love running in and bowling as fast as possible and then of course trying to be consistent. ”

After taking off her gloves this season, 21-year-old Rachel Priest has established herself as the club’s goalkeeper of choice.

Though Wilson had the chance to encounter Ismail on the nets last year, the young gun didn’t understand the 32-year-old’s raw pace until after feeling the ball hit her gloves.

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« It was great to stand behind the stump and see how fast she actually bowls, » Wilson told the news. com. ouch. “Some of them would have hit my gloves and wrung out their fingers a little.

« She has done so much for our group, not only on the field, how well she bowls, but she is really good in the group and more than happy to have some fun with all the girls. « . ”

In this year’s WBBL, Ismail took 12 wickets with a commendable average of 21. 25th. She is one of four Thunder Bowlers who claim 10 wickets in the tournament, the only club to have managed the feat in the group stage.

Ismail was at her best during a player in the game against the Hobart Hurricanes on Sunday morning. The South African got 3/10 of her four overs at Drummoyne Oval and secured the Thunder a place in the semifinals.

You will face defending champions Brisbane Heat on Thursday evening at the North Sydney Oval. Both teams play for a place in the WBBL final.

Just too fast! Outstanding spell from @ThunderBBL spearhead Shabnim Ismail who ends her four overs with numbers from 3-10 🔥👏LIVE: https: // t. co / dIdBCTMQvP # WBBL06 pic. Twitter. com / sJfgfdU3n7

The Drummoyne pitch offered bowlers plenty of bounce and variety, but that won’t necessarily be the case this week at the North Sydney Oval.

« But there’s no reason we can’t beat them. We have done it before. We showed our character on the Thunder team so I’m very interested in getting out there and doing what we do best and not really worrying about what the opposition can do. ”

The Heat has taken seven wins in a row in the WBBL and has been touted as a favorite that led to the absolutely must-win victory.

Regardless, the Thunder have a talented roster that includes powerhouse duo Rachel Haynes and English skipper Heather Knight.

The Thunder also features several rising stars, with teenage phenomena Phoebe Litchfield and Hannah Darlington continuing to prove their worth.

« I’m very excited to see what the future will look like (Litchfield), » said Ismail. « If she is as good at cricket as she was at this young age, it is really exciting to see what she will do in the future.

« We also have Hannah Darlington, who has done really great for us over the last two seasons.

« I know a lot of people say we have a young team, but I think the experience they bring and how quickly they learn as a team really shows a lot of character from them. ”

Since the WBBL became an independent event, it has become one of the most popular sports leagues in Australia.

More than 300. 000 spectators watched the semi-finals between the Melbourne Stars and Perth Scorchers on Wednesday evening, an unfathomable number compared to the early years of the tournament.

Media coverage and free-to-air broadcasting have added to the growth of competition, which Ismail in South Africa would like to see more of.

« Thousands upon thousands of people came out to watch us last season, » Ismail said. « Of course it was different this year with COVID and everything, but we still had the support of the fans and we checked out Instagram.

« It’s really good to see that we have the stability of people who support us all the way.

« I’m not saying there is no backing in South Africa, but it would be nice to get more of this media coverage. « . ”

Throughout the WBBL this season, several players have opted for a knee to help support the Black Lives Matter movement.

The entire Thunder squad and coaching team have decided to take part in the peaceful protest, while some opposition players have stopped and still agree against racism.

« I’m not really excited about people taking a knee or not, » said Ismail. « It’s exactly what they believe in or what they don’t do. « .

« I just think everyone respects each other’s beliefs, and that’s exactly how competition works. ”

Ismail traveled down under earlier this year to compete in the T20 World Cup and led a violent South African tempo attack.

After South Africa went undefeated in the group stage, they were beaten by Australia in a rain-hit semi-final at the SCG.

Despite the abrupt end of her campaign, Ismail has fond memories of the tournament which saw record crowds and channel numbers.

« I think we did a really great job, » said Ismail. “We entered the T20 World Championship as underdogs and played against Australia in the semi-finals. We knew it would never be easy for us.

« But it was a challenge, it was a healthy competition between the two of them. But on this day the best team wins. ”

Ismail turned 99 during the tournament. international T20 wicket claims and remains enticingly close to the three-digit milestone.

When they finally get the coveted 100. Scalp catches, she will be the first male or female South African cricketer to do so.

« I always want to have milestones, I always want to leave a legacy, » said Ismail. “I want to leave unforgettable moments for the young people who come through the pipeline.

« Of course I’m really looking forward to playing my next game for the national team and getting just that one wicket. « . ”

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Women’s Big Bash League, Sydney Thunder (WBBL), Brisbane Heat (WBBL), Cricket, Australian Men’s Cricket Team, Jess Jonassen, Twenty20