Murphy back on Fire to fulfil cricket destiny

Anton Rose | 14th Jun 2017 6:00 AM, https://www.thechronicle.com.a...ket-destiny/3189197/

Maggie Murphy has cricketing prowess in her veins.

Ask anyone in her hometown of Thallon and they will tell you how the Murphy family has been skittling batsmen and hitting opponents for six for generations.

The 17 year old is on the path to fulfil her cricketing destiny and follow in the footsteps of many in her family who excelled in the game, including her dad.

"The Murphys used to have their own cricket team at home; that is how big the family is,” she said.

"We have a big family and dad is one of seven so they had enough to field a side in the competition.”

Murphy was just named in the Queensland under 18 girls cricket squad for the third time on the back off a big 12 months at the crease.

The St Ursula's College boarder was one of five rookie players to join the Queensland Fire's Women's National Cricket League squad last year and is targeting the top level of the game once again.

Should she make it there, she will not be the first from the region.

Warwick's Delissa Kimmince and Kingaroy's Holly Ferling blazed the way for her, going from bush cricketers to international superstars with the Australian Southern Stars. The pair offered guidance and acted as mentors for Murphy, taking her under their wings as she matures into a senior-level cricketer.

Murphy did not exactly have the easiest start in cricket.

"I grew up with only boys in my grade and they decided they were going to trial for South-West and I decided to go - I ended up making that team,” she recalled.

The teenager already proved she is made of tough stuff, playing on one leg for Queensland last year despite missing the majority of the cricket season in Toowoomba with injury. Coming back this year fit and firing, Murphy recalled her long road to earning another Queensland under 18 jersey.

"I played in Hobart with an injured ankle but I had to miss most of the season with that injury,” she said.

"Getting back to yourself takes a really long time and a lot of physio.”

In a bid to get to the bright lights of the women's Big Bash one day, Murphy plans to head east and pursue opportunities with Brisbane cricket clubs next year.

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