Bouchier Reflects on Positive Big Bash Experience

Southern Vipers batter Maia Bouchier has spent part of her winter down under representing Melbourne Stars as an overseas player during the Women’s Big Bash League.

2021 was a huge year for Bouchier, a second Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy went along with some incredible batting performances throughout the summer.

What's more, there was the small matter of an England debut in September.

Speaking of her experience in Australia with Melbourne Stars, Bouchier was nothing but positive:

“It was amazing - I really enjoyed it. I think considering I've just come into this kind of environment after seven years of the BBL, it's pretty impressive and the standard has been unreal. I think coming into a tournament like this and meeting new people and learning lots of new things from different cricketers, it is pretty amazing.”

Bouchier hailed the impact of playing with some of the most experienced players in the game during her time with the Stars:

“I've had I've had a really good time and learned a lot, especially under like Meg Lanning and Elyse Villani, and also learning from the other girls, as well as the younger girls who have played in the Big Bash and know the tactics and know how to go about things.”

As an overseas player, Bouchier had a lot of responsibility but she did not feel much of the pressure:

“I think so a bit later on in the competition. At first, I thought I should just go in and just have a bit of fun and play cricket and try and show what I could do. I didn't really put too much pressure on myself. I just thought, You know what? I've come in and I'm new in the team and these girls, I don't think they are expecting a lot of me.”

Bouchier contributed consistently throughout the tournament with a top score of 42 but the right-handed batter felt she could have done more for the team:

"I'm hoping to kind of get to that 50 mark. But I think just various reasons kind of mentally and pressures. I'm quite critical of myself, I see what I can do to the next game to obviously improve. I didn't just let myself play with freedom and just play cricket and enjoy it."

Having played as more of a batter during the BBL Maia outlined her ambition to become more of an all-rounder and feature in that way for England in the future.

“I may have been seen as just a batter, I need to be proactive and make sure that I'm putting in the work. I need my bowling and it's really important over the next couple of months that I'm, you know, keeping that up. Hopefully I can be seen as a more of an all-rounder for England as well.”

Bouchier will now travel to Oman to link up with fellow Vipers Charlie Dean and Danni Wyatt who are with the England squad doing warm weather training to acclimatise before the Ashes which begins in January:

“It's a very big year, and I'm excited just to get underway because I know that everyone's keen to get out the UK and play some cricket abroad. Yeah, it is just very exciting and it's also great for the women's game. There's so much going on, the Ashes, World Cup, Commonwealth Games, The Hundred, everything coming up in one year.”