YANCO Agricultural High School student Alice Caldow dreams of one day becoming a professional cricketer.
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Now, she is one step closer on the pathway to that wish after being selected in the under 15s ACT/NSW Country cricket side.
Originally from Hay, Alice has been playing cricket for as long as she can remember and she will join Leeton's Charlie Lamont in the same side when they head to the national championships in Canberra early next year.
"My little brother, my big brother and my dad played cricket a lot, so that's how I started getting into it," Alice said.
Alice has been playing with various representative teams in the Riverina and the Murrumbidgee.
She also plays for Hay when she goes home, as well as Yanco's C grade side as part of the Leeton District Cricket Association competition.
When she heard the news of her selection in the under 15s ACT/NSW country side, Alice said it came as a bit of a shock.
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"I was very surprised ... I didn't really think I would be selected," she said.
"I think it's going to be a tough competition.
"Queensland will probably be the team to beat."
Alice will be one of the main bowlers in the side's attack and she typically bats in the middle order.
She said cricket was a game that had many elements, making it hard to choose just one thing she enjoyed most about playing and stepping out into the middle.
"I like the team work ... all of the connections and memories you make," Alice said.
"There's a lot you always have to be thinking about for cricket."
When it comes to a female athlete that she looks up to, Alice couldn't go past fellow Hay local in Jodie Hicks.
Hicks currently plays for the Sydney Sixers, which is also Alice's favourite women's side, as well as the Greater Western Sydney Giants in the AFLW competition.
"She used to be my coach," Alice said.
"I'd love to be able to play professionally one day like her.
"The pathways are evolving now to do that. It's definitely better than it was."
Alice will now focus on getting her bowling action up-to-scratch ahead of the nationals.
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