Scotland bowler Hannah Rainey’s summer time has simply reached new heights, after she obtained a late call-up to the Oval Invincibles squad for The Hundred, starting this week.
The 26-year outdated, who works as a vet, was attending an emergency name at a farm in Cumbria when she obtained a message from Invincibles Head Coach Jonathan Batty. A number of days later, she’s had her first expertise on the house of cricket, and is getting ready for her maiden Hundred expertise with the two-time defending ladies’s champions.
Rainey joins Scotland captain Kathryn Bryce (Manchester Originals), Sarah Bryce (Welsh Fireplace) and Abtaha Maqsood (Birmingham Phoenix) within the excessive profile ECB competitors, with the Oval Invincibles starting their marketing campaign at Lord’s on Wednesday afternoon in opposition to the London Spirit.
“I’m simply actually excited to be concerned and get a possibility like this to play with a few of the greatest cricketers within the nation – and the world,” mentioned Hannah.
“I simply need to see if I can study as a lot as I can from them, and develop my cricket – even when I don’t get the chance to play, simply being across the group and asking questions and studying as a lot as potential is unbelievable.
“Lord’s is wonderful! This has all occurred final minute, and I’ve by no means even been to see a cricket match at Lord’s, so to be coaching and probably taking part in there, it’s loopy.
“I’ve watched loads of cricket performed there on TV, however by no means been there myself earlier than this week. The garden is so completely minimize, it’s similar to a carpet. It’s simply wonderful to go to the house of cricket and practice there. Whatever the sport, it’s simply cool to be there. The lunch was fairly wonderful too!”
Hannah’s call-up got here final Tuesday night, when she was attending to an important state of affairs unusual to most worldwide cricketers.
“It was round 7pm, and I had gone to see a cow that had injured its tail, and needed to amputate it, so it was fairly a night. I hadn’t achieved many amputations earlier than so I used to be a bit scared, if I’m being sincere. It was an excellent factor the decision got here afterwards.
“As I used to be leaving, I picked up a textual content from Jonathan Batty, introducing himself and asking if he might give me a hoop. I had fairly a protracted drive house, so was capable of chat to him. He principally mentioned, “I’ve spoken to a couple individuals, heard good issues about you – would you want a contract with us?” I didn’t actually count on that. I used to be actually stunned and, if I’m sincere, my mind was a bit overwhelmed. I had no thought it was coming – it got here fully out of the blue.
“Once I spoke to him, I defined that I’ve a job [with Capontree Vets in Brampton] so I would want to talk to my work, however that I might completely like to say sure to his provide. I then texted my dad and mentioned, “You’ll by no means guess what’s occurred, I’ve been provided a contract by the Oval Invincibles within the Hundred.” He was like, “What?!”
“My work have been actually supportive of my cricket anyway, and my dad steered they’d perceive it was such a fantastic alternative, however he did do the fatherly factor and inform me to not get too excited!”
Since receiving the Invincibles name, Hannah has been getting ready mentally for arguably the most important check of her profession thus far, while juggling her veterinary duties over the weekend. The challenges don’t finish there – past The Hundred, there’s the small matter of Scotland’s T20 European Qualifier in Spain subsequent month to look ahead.
“I used to be on name till Monday morning, after which received the practice down at 11am that day, met up with the squad for the staff assembly within the late afternoon, after which went out for dinner with them.
“Everybody within the squad is beautiful, nevertheless it’s a bit daunting coming into an setting the place you don’t know any of the gamers in any respect. I’ve probably not performed in opposition to any of my teammates, besides Cordelia Griffiths – once I was at Edinburgh College she performed for Durham, possibly 5 years in the past.
“I haven’t actually performed for the Thunder but both, however I believe they’re all actually completely satisfied for me; the coaches there simply suppose it is a nice alternative. They mentioned it reveals that I’m progressing very well, which has been good suggestions.”
“There’s no higher preparation for an enormous worldwide collection than coaching with the most effective gamers on this planet. I used to be having a bowl at Suzie Bates as we speak, so you possibly can’t actually get a lot better prep than that, being challenged in that setting and taking part in in video games. It’s simply sensible.”
