Tara Murray
Kirsty Kempel may have just played game 200 for Craigieburn’s women’s cricket team, but she’s still learning so much every time she steps onto the field.
Kempel, who is also the Eagles coach in the Cricket Victoria Women’s Community Cricket Competition, stepped out on the field for her 200th game on Sunday.
Speaking before the game, she said it was one that she had been really looking forward to.
She said she was unsure what her teammates had planned for her.
“I’m a bit rapt about that,” she said. “It’s a bit of an achievement for me.
“Our captain Tarz [Litara] played her 200th game in the first game of the season. It’s really good, there’s a few of us that have been around at Craigieburn since the start.”
Craigieburn was the first club where Kempel pulled on the cricket clothes having always loved the sport.
She said the uniform used to put her off playing, but once she started playing and has never looked back.
“I’ve loved it,” she said. “It’s one of those sports and once they said they were having a team at Craigieburn, I decided I was playing.
“The best thing about cricket is there’s always something to work on. For me I can get ? to it you can not master it.
“You’re always working on it”
Kempel said her teammates quickly became friends and something she has taken from the game.
She said the change of uniform had been one of the biggest changes in her time in the sport, as well as how the game is played.
“The format has evolved,” she said. “They’re more athletic now. It’s improved a lot and it’s a bit more professional and there’s a bit more fitness.
“You can get out of it what you want to get out of it.”
Kempel joked she would continue on to 300 games if she was still alive, when the old age question of how long will you play for.
She said taking on the coaching the last few seasons had given her a different view of the game as well.
“Coaching our side, is a whole other side,” she said. “I’m finding my groove and I enjoy.”
Kempel said the premierships she had won were pretty special and she would love to win another one for those who are yet to win one, to taste that success.
She’s hoping this season could be the one with the side sitting on top of the shield 3 one-day ladder.
“Hopefully we can stay there.”
On Sunday, the Eagles came away with the points against Point Cook Centrals.
The Eagles made 8-141. before restricting the Sharks to 9-126.
