Sarah Oliver
St Anthonys president Julie Burfurd had never played a game of cricket until last weekend.
But when the club’s Cricket Victoria Women’s Community Cricket north-west B side was set to forfeit, she decided to step up and help.
Burfurd put her hand up to fill in to ensure the girls had a chance to play.
“I am all about the women succeeding and it came down to either I walked on the field or we had to forfeit…so I put my hand up,” she said.
Burfurd said she thought she could never play due to her age and “carrying a few extra pounds and also having health issues,” so she had some nerves going onto the field.
Days later Burfurd is still on a natural high from the game.
“The minutes after I finished the game, I walked off and my words were: ‘I’m coming to training’,” she said.
Despite being defeated by Keilor, Burfurd said the team morale after the game was “amazing”.
And it won’t be the last time Burfurd is seen on the field. She said she’s officially going to start training.
“I’m going to train and I’m gonna get better.
“I will definitely walk back on the field if they need me to – 100 per cent and I’m looking forward to being able to actually do it.
“I think being locked at home and working from home and realising how unfit I’ve become has really given me a boost to keep going.”
Burfurd, who has been the club president for five years, also got the chance to play with her daughter, Hayley Burfurd.
“We were talking out on the field and we were encouraging each other back and forth,” she said.
“We had a giggle on the way home. It was nice to drive home and actually have a talk about being involved in the game.”
And it seems the pair won’t be the only mother and daughter duo, with two new players joining after seeing Burfurd’s story on Facebook
The team is keen to get more players on board, with interested players encouraged to contact the club.
Burfurd hopes being selected to participate in the Toyota BigBash for Cash next Monday will be “a bit of a boost our club needs at the moment”.
Every six hit by Sydney Thunder and the Brisbane Heat in a BBL game will earn the club $500.
The club will have the opportunity to win up to $10,000, with a guaranteed $2,500 to come their way.
“Everyone will be watching – everyone in the club is really excited.
“After COVID, it’s just putting a lot of things back in perspective and the money won’t go astray.”
