Nicola Hancock has the one thing all great fast bowlers have in common . . . an intimidation factor.
With a shiny new ball in her hand, she has the choice of ramping up her speed, aiming to knock the stumps out of the ground, or digging the ball in short and delivering her own brand of chin music.
“I think, in general, people are a bit intimidated by me,” Hancock says.
“I’m bigger than a normal girl, very broad built. I do like to dig the ball in.”
Hancock is a tearaway bowler and big-hitting batsman from Williamstown who wants to make her mark on the Australian women’s cricket landscape.
She opens the bowling, bats in the middle order and seemingly has success wherever she goes.
The 18-year-old has represented Victoria at under-age level for the past four seasons.
This month she will travel to the Cricket Australia Centre of Excellence in Brisbane for an under-18 talent camp.
Hancock is looking forward to displaying her skills in her first taste of national duties.
“I want to get my name out there,” she said.
“I want to show them what I have and what I can bring to a team. I’m a bowler and I have a bit of pace behind me. I’m faster than normal girls and, hopefully, that’s what they see as my talent.”
With the attention of national selectors sparked, Hancock is also set for a big year with Victoria after receiving a Cricket Victoria ‘Vic Spirit’ contract.
She joins Australian World Cup hero and fellow western suburbs gun Jess Cameron in the 19-woman Vic Spirit squad whose coach Barry Neivandt is suitably impressed.
“Nicola is possibly the quickest female bowler in Victoria,” he said.
“She hits a big ball in the mid-lower order and has a great arm in the outfield. She’s strong, committed and passionate.”
While a lot of promising young athletes are eventually forced to choose between two sports, Hancock had three in her kit after representing Victoria in hockey and athletics.
“Hockey season has always been in the winter so that worked out well with me for fitness,” she said.
“With athletics and cricket, it was always very hard. I’d go from athletics in the morning and then hop off to cricket.
“Eventually I made the decision in under-16s that I’d focus on cricket. I had to give up athletics and it’s turned out pretty well.”
Don Deeble Rising Star award
For her outstanding sporting achievements, Hancock is a monthly nominee for the Don Deeble Rising Star award, run by Sunshine Western Region Sports Club in conjunction with Star Weekly.
She will receive $1000 donated by the Yarraville Club Cricket Club and other prizes to help reach her sporting goals.
The Don Deeble Rising Star award recognises young athletes in the western suburbs who have achieved outstanding results at state and national level.
