Tewantin’s Lilly Mills credits ex-Australian representative Nathan Hauritz for taking her game to the next level.
The 20-year-old all-rounder has made some great strides with her off-spin, under the guidance of 39-year-old Hauritz, who retired from competitive cricket in 2016.
“I’m really starting to build on some of the skills I have, and we have quality coaching staff who support that,” she said.
“Working with Nathan, I’ve really found that’s upped my ability to spin the ball and get nice shape on it. He’s been a really big help for me.
“We work on creating angles and tactics.”
Hauritz played for Queensland and New South Wales and notched 17 Tests and 58 one-day internationals for Australia between 2002 and 2011.
“It’s really key to have a past player who has been in that position and has played a high level of cricket,” Mills said.
“It’s pretty cool to work under him and soak up that knowledge.”
Mills bowled medium pacers as a junior but wanted to add another string to her bow three years ago.
She’s since become a spin threat, with experts around the team guiding her.
“It’s been a bit of a building phase for the past three years, really learning my craft and trying to absorb as much knowledge as possible form guys like Nathan, and it’s pretty cool that our skipper (Jess Jonassen) is also a very talented spin bowler.”
Help keep independent and fair Sunshine Coast news coming by subscribing to our free daily news feed. All it requires is your name and email. See SUBSCRIBE at the top of this article.
Mills is emerging as one of the ones to watch on the Australian cricket scene.
She made her debut for the Brisbane Heat in the Women’s Big Bash League in 2019 and played her first game for the Fire this month, taking the wicket of talented New South Wales teenager Maddy Darke.
“To get a wicket on debut is a pretty cool thing,” she said.
“I just tried to back my skills and hold my nerve.”
Mills, who played her junior cricket at Tewantin, was delighted to help pave the way for female cricketers from the Sunshine Coast.
The region now boasts several women’s clubs, growing girls’ competitions and a representative team which won the Queensland league this year.
“I think the Sunny Coast supported me though a lot of my cricket and I don’t think I would be where I am if it wants for some of the coaches I played under,” she said.
“It’s pretty cool to see that pathway for the girls coming through,” she said.
“We (top tier players) like to set an example for grassroots cricket and to see the growth of female cricket on the Coast has been awesome.”
Mills was named in a 13-player squad for the Women’s National Cricket League grand-final against Victoria in Melbourne on Saturday, with one to be 12th player and one to be omitted.
“Backing our skills is really important,” she said of their chances.
“We train hard but at the end of the day it will come down to who can hold their nerve and execute better under pressure.”
Mills was ready for action, if called upon.
“Hopefully, I can get a run and do a job for the team,” she said.
The Fire are coached by Sunshine Coast product and former Queensland quick Ashley Noffke.
Noffke took to the Heat to the WBBL title in 2019/2020.
WNCL final, Queensland Fire v Victoria, Saturday, Junction Oval, 9am Qld time, live streamed on Kayo.
