One thing we've loved at Cricket Tasmania recently is sharing the stories of the people who make our cricket community such a special place.
Natalie Curbishley's story fits perfectly within Play Cricket Month, highlighting just one of the many ways people can get involved in their local club.
Bracknell Cricket Club is quickly building a foundation for junior cricket within their club, with establishing their first Blast Program in 2024/25 with 43 participants, and their first an Under 12 side last year season.
The establishment of this Under 12 team was a first for Bracknell, which led to Natalie’s first opportunity to coach a junior team
Over to you, Natalie.
“Cricket has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I spent plenty of time in the backyard playing and watching my dad and brothers. Eventually, I decided to give it a go myself and played in a few underage and women's teams for Tasmania before focusing on my nursing career and raising a family.
Even through those busy years, cricket was never far away. For the past 10 years, I've been playing on and off in the TCL Female Boom Competition while raising my children. My husband and our four boys all love cricket too, so it's always been a big part of our family.
I only started coaching last year when we were able to enter our first junior team at Bracknell and my son Abel was ready to play his first season. It felt like a natural way to stay involved and help our junior players get started in the game.
One thing I've learnt is that you don't have to know everything about cricket to be a coach. Junior cricket is really about helping kids learn the basics, whether that's batting, bowling, fielding or running between the wickets. Just as importantly, it's about teaching respect for the game, sportsmanship and how to be good people.
What I love most about junior cricket is seeing how much the kids grow throughout a season. Cricket teaches so many valuable life skills, including friendship, patience, concentration, respect and learning to celebrate the achievements of others. That's what makes coaching so rewarding.
Last year, we had a few seven and eight-year-olds in our team and it was fantastic to watch their skills, confidence and concentration improve as the season went on. Twenty overs in the field can feel like a long time when you're that age, so seeing that development was incredibly rewarding.
I'm also very passionate about girls' cricket, and it's exciting to see more young girls getting involved. We have some promising female players at our club, and it's great to see opportunities continuing to grow.
The best part about coaching is that you don't do it alone. We have a really family-friendly atmosphere at Bracknell and everyone pitches in. Like most community clubs, Bracknell relies heavily on volunteers. There are very few paid positions in community sport, and a huge amount of work goes into getting teams on the ground each week. It's been great to see more women stepping into leadership and volunteer roles at our club, including our President, Sophie, and team manager, Jaimie.
That sense of community is one of the things I love most about Bracknell. Our men's, women's and junior clubs all support each other, and everyone is willing to lend a hand. Whether it's helping with the BBQ, working behind the bar or supporting the junior program, people get involved because they care about the club and the people in it.
Coaching has given me the chance to give back to a game that has given so much to me over the years. Seeing young players develop, not just as cricketers but as people, is incredibly special, and I'd encourage anyone who's thinking about it to give coaching a go.”
Thank you for sharing your story with us Natalie and your love of cricket with your local community. We hope we can fill the whole Tigers lists with Bracknell Cricket Club alumni in a few years!
Interested in coaching?
You don't need years of experience or all the answers to make a difference. If you've ever thought about helping out at your local club, Play Cricket Month is the perfect time to get involved. Enquire now about coaching opportunities and training and help create great experiences for the next generation of cricketers.
Contact: Ryan Kelly