While her friends are celebrating schoolies on the Gold Coast, Brisbane Heat teenager Lucy Hamilton is shattering records in the Women’s Big Bash League.
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The left-armed quick, who hadn’t taken a WBBL wicket before Sunday’s match, claimed 5-8 from four overs including a maiden and 20 dot balls as the Heat secured a six-wicket victory over the Melbourne Stars at Drummoyne Oval.
At just 18 years and 193 days old, she became the youngest cricketer in WBBL history to claim a five-wicket haul, bettering the previous record set by West Indies captain Hayley Matthews, while also becoming the first Heat player to achieve the feat. Among her victims were Indian superstar Deepti Sharma and her childhood hero, former Australian captain Meg Lanning.
Stars v Heat – Full Match Highlights | 13:43
Hamilton, who made her Big Bash debut aged 16, had played seven WBBL matches before Sunday’s victory, conceding 126 runs without unearthing a breakthrough. But once she mustered her first, the floodgates opened.
“I wasn’t really thinking about, ‘Oh, I haven’t taken a wicket yet,’ or whatnot,” Hamilton told reporters after the match.
“It was more just a sense of backing what I do and I know it’ll come. I had to be patient, obviously I’ve played a fair few games.
“But it finally came and it was really thrilling.”
Best bowling figures in WBBL history
6/19 – Megan Schutt (Strikers) vs ST, 2022
5/8 – Amanda-Jade Wellington (Strikers) vs BH, 2021
5/8 – Amanda-Jade Wellington (Strikers) vs MR, 2022
5/8 – Lucy Hamilton (Heat) vs MS, 2024
5/10 – Hannah Darlington (Thunder) vs MS, 2023
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Bundaberg product Hamilton, who has played five seasons of Premier Cricket with Sunshine Coast, joins a growing list of teenagers that has burst onto the scene this season, including the Sydney Sixers’ Caoimhe Bray and Perth Scorchers’ Chloe Ainsworth.
Left-armed seamers remain a rarity in the WBBL, and Hamilton has been working on swinging deliveries back into right-handed batters, adding an extra weapon to her arsenal.
“Growing up, there were only a few (left-armed bowlers) in the game when I was watching as well,” Hamilton continued.
“But we have a few more coming through, even in the juniors now. It’s great to see.
“It’s also different to have in your attack as well, a left-arm quick that can hopefully bring it back in.”
Youngest five-wicket haul in WBBL history
18 years, 193 days – Lucy Hamilton (Heat) vs MS, 2024
18 years, 296 days – Hayley Matthews (Hurricanes) vs BH, 2017
20 years, 88 days – Alice Capsey (Renegades) vs PS, 2024
21 years, 289 days – Hannah Darlington (Thunder) vs MS, 2023
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Hamilton made her maiden WNCL appearance for the Queensland Fire in 2022 aged 15, becoming the state’s second youngest debutant. She represented Australia at last year’s Under-19 Women’s World Cup in South Africa, taking five wickets at 10.80 with an economy rate of 4.15.
Juggling cricket duties with school commitments, which required plenty of online classes, Hamilton’s parents would often be required to drive the sporting prodigy between Bundaberg and Brisbane, a four-hour journey.
“My parents have just been driving me back and forth, which is a lot for them,” Hamilton said
“But I like watching movies in the car.”
The Heat, currently third on the WBBL standings, will next host the Melbourne Stars at Allan Border Field on Friday at 8.10pm AEDT.
