How impactful do you think role models are in cricket?

 

I found in my studies that one of the main reasons that teenagers stop playing sport is because there is a lack of role models. You cannot be what you cannot see. If they do not see older women playing, they then don’t know they can do that.

 

Role models should show them that they can play for fun, or competitively. But we need to be able to give them that pathway regardless of which route they choose.

 

You have to start with the fun side, regardless of the age that you are starting. Once you find the fun side, there are so many opportunities that can open up from that.

 

 

Can you tell us a bit about being selected for the ICC Development Programme?

 

Yes, it was the best news I’ve received. It was something I was so excited about. I rang my boss (president of Cricket Brazil) and they supported me so much with the application. It is so great to be around passionate women who are fighting to be leaders of their country.

 

I feel very grateful to be involved in the social media and cricket in which they have given me a window to talk to these women who are great at what they do and are leaders in their areas. I feel very grateful for that.

 

 

Have you had any sessions with the programme?

 

I start sessions with Belinda Clark. I cannot believe I get to train with huge names like her. We have stimulus sessions in which we read material and discuss. It is great to network and study at the same time.

 

The way that it works is that you have two group sessions with Belinda. Then there is monthly 1-1 mentoring.

 

 

What’s the structure like at Cricket Brazil?

 

In 2013, we used to train in a closed gymnasium. We had two lanes, no separation. We were so new to cricket that no-one would get hurt, even thought there was no equipment.

 

Now, we have cricket grounds all around the country. We have a high performance training centre with loads of facilities, and we received a huge donation from the Lords Taverners to allow us to train with all the equipment we need.

 

In terms of the coaching teams and staff, we now have the Brazilian team, head coach, team manager - all the types of coaches. We are so grateful because we never thought it would be possible.

 

 

You were the first country to have female contracts before the male players, how do you feel?

 

It really caught me by surprise. We were coming back from the South African Championship. Matt said to me that the board were thinking of giving out contracts. I thought it would be something really small, we were thinking about where could we go next. We won 4/5 of the last championships.

 

It shows that regardless of the gender, we are still given opportunities.

 

 

How does it feel to be the only player to have scored a T20I century?

 

It was the second tournament I had played in for Brazil. We had not had an opening partnership. The person who went first was the person who didn’t care about getting out.

 

The first game of the tournament I got a call asking if I wanted to open. It was 5 degrees, so of course I wanted to be playing. I was just going about my business enjoying myself when all of a sudden they shouted 50 from the boundary. I didn’t really know what to do, I didn’t know you had to raise your bat. I just said thank you and carried on.

 

But no-one knew that I scored a hundred, because I got it in the last over. I went over to the scorers and he told me I got 102. I said thank you and left without realising how great it really was.

 

All of a sudden people kept bringing me all these things and MVP ceremonies - I really didn’t know scoring a century was that big. We didn’t have role models or history to help teach us. And I never watched cricket on tv, I didn’t really know much about the sport to be honest.

 

I guess because there was no pressure of anyone congratulation you or celebrating, simply because I didn’t know how much of an achievement it was, it was much simpler to play. Now that I know it’s such a big thing, I haven’t come close because of the pressure.