Melton Lions cricketer Nicole Martin never imagined her passion for cricket would take her to Japan.
The Lions’ women’s premiership-winning coach will next month coach the Japanese women’s side at the ICC East Asia Pacific Women’s Cricket Trophy tournament in Samoa.
The winner will progress to the global qualifier for the ICC 2017 Women’s Cricket World Cup.
“I got a random phone call asking if I was interested,” Martin said.
“Cricket Victoria has a partnership with Japan and they were looking to send a couple of coaches over.
“There was a nomination process and I got selected. I’m excited to head over there, but I’m not sure how I’ll go with communicating.”
The Japanese role is just the latest of several coaching roles Martin has filled.
As well as coaching the Lions, she coached the under-15 girls Victorian team at this year’s national championships and was assistant coach of the victorious Victorian under-18 girls team.
She has also been part of the Central Highlands and Western Spirit programs and was nominated as a finalist of Cricket Victoria’s female coach of the year.
Martin’s involvement in cricket started with playing indoor cricket. She quickly fell in love with the coaching side of things.
For her, cricket is cricket – it matters not whether it’s indoor or outdoor or whether she’s playing or coaching. Martin is a level three Cricket Victoria coach, having been part of the high-performance program for five years.
“I’m passionate about cricket,” Martin said. “I love working with juniors and the female side of the game.”
Taking a longer-term view, the 31-year-old said she would love to be part of the coaching set-up for the Australian women’s side.
“It’s an honour to coach any country,” she said.
While focusing on coaching Japan, Martin is keeping busy playing with and captaining the Victorian indoor team, which is competing this week at the national championships in Melbourne.
“Hopefully I’ll get selected in the Australian team for a tri-series with New Zealand,” she said. “I’ve been lucky enough to play for Australia the last 10 years.”
