“Alana played with the boys initially, when she was about 15 years old. At that time, there weren’t many girls in cricket, and not many from the subcontinent. And I know she’d want more girls, and boys, from the subcontinent playing cricket at a higher level,” Ms King says.
King developed a love of cricket early.
It’s something her father has noticed too.
“We are so privileged to see her go to the top of the tree,” he says.
King in action for Australia against Bangladesh in the Women’s Cricket World Cup in March. Source: AAP / AARON GILLIONS
A year ago, largely unknown, King was getting ready for a season with a new team — the Perth Scorchers — in the Women’s Big Bash League.
Now, the 26-year-old leg-spinner is preparing for her Commonwealth Games debut. The Games start on Thursday and the next day Australia takes on India in their opening T20 clash of the tournament.
Her main motivation is to see some of the sub-continent girls and boys playing cricket
Leroy King
“I was just excited to be there, I knew that I’d be learning from the best players in the world. I wanted to try and tap into their knowledge, and keep evolving my game.
Leroy and Sharon watching their daughter in action from their Melbourne home. Source: SBS News / News
“For me, it was about being a huge sponge [and soaking everything up]. I just wanted to take in as much as I could, and keep getting better.
And while her parents won’t be in England, they’re hopeful of being able to watch her play in India in the next few years.
King batting for the Perth Scorchers in last year’s Women’s Big Bash League final against the Adelaide Strikers. Credit: Paul Kane/Getty Images
There have been suggestions there will soon be a Women’s Indian Premier League, to run along similar lines to the lucrative and popular IPL — which started for men in 2008.
“That would mean so, so much for us because both of us hail from Chennai. To see our daughter play in the city that we were born and grew up in would just be a dream come true,” she says.
“It was an awesome experience, and something I’d wanted to do from early on,” King says.
King’s brother Mark was also into cricket from a young age.
“There’s more in it for me, given mum and dad are from India. So going back to India and my Indian roots was pretty special.
“I also experienced what it was like with all of the traffic, when it takes an hour and 20 minutes to get to the ground, with all of the traffic and people on the road.”
King and teammate Beth Mooney with the trophy after Australia beat England to win the final of the 2022 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in New Zealand in April. Credit: Hannah Peters/Getty Images
Women’s cricket will appear in the Commonwealth Games for the first time, and for just the second time for cricket overall — there was a men’s event at the Kuala Lumpur Games in 1998.
And it’s fair to say she’s enjoying the journey — “I’ll be on the winning train as long as it keeps going!”
