Some correct themselves when they realise, some don’t bother, and some ask why a young lady would want to be doing “a man’s work”. We’ve been collectively called gents, lads, or fellas a few too many times. It shows that cricket truly has something for every spectator.ĭefying some of the stereotypes of a ’groundsman’ has been a challenge. You can see in the stadium that each format of the game attracts different crowds. I've loved working with the Gloucestershire men’s team as well. To have helped prepare the pitch on which Sophia Dunkley bagged her first hundred felt like a huge achievement. My favourite day on the job so far was England women’s game against South Africa. The ground staff shed at Gloucestershire Cricket could not have been a more supportive environment to start my sports turf career. They’re all keen to teach me what they know, and they’ve a huge amount of experience. It definitely makes the long days go quickly. I sometimes wonder if they’ve even noticed I’m a woman! We have a great laugh and have so much fun together. The team around me are just the most wonderful guys.
I figured you’d probably need a PhD in horticulture to work at an international cricket ground! But I must have been keen enough, with the right attitude, and I literally started straight away. Having worked previously as an agricultural contractor, I jumped at the opportunity when I saw a job advert for a member of the grounds team at the Bristol County Ground just after I’d moved to the UK.īefore then, I didn’t think groundskeeping was the sort of job you could get paid to do and I certainly didn’t think I’d get the job. The UK is excellent too, and all the steps are there for it to continue to get better. We’re the most progressive country in the world when it comes to women's rights. Having grown up in New Zealand, I can’t help but feel lucky. It was the social element that really gave cricket the edge. As soon as I was old enough, I wanted to start playing myself. Mum used to take my younger siblings and I to watch. My mum was into cricket and Dad played, too.
I grew up on a crop farm south of Christchurch in New Zealand.
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