Two Australian hockey players seek cricketing switch with WBBL

"Cricket is an exciting sport, I think it is very similar to hockey which is a sport I obviously love, especially the hand-eye coordination," Kate Hollywood said. © Cricaction

Two Australian hockey stars are attempting a bold switch of sports in a determined bid to play in the Women's Big Bash League's (WBBL) second edition. Former Hockeyroos (Australian women's national team) star Kate Hollywood has confirmed she is trialing for a rookie contract with either the Sydney Sixers or Sydney Thunder, while Mathilda Carmichael, another ex-hockey player, has signed with Perth Scorchers.

Hollywood, a two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist and 2008 Olympian, is part of a Cricket New South Wales initiative hoping to lure other leading female athletes to cricket. The 30-year-old said cricket and hockey shared common characteristics.

"Cricket is an exciting sport, I think it is very similar to hockey which is a sport I obviously love, especially the hand-eye coordination," she told News Limited on Sunday (July 31). "Since playing hockey, and being around that team environment, it is something that I've loved about the sport. I think cricket is very similar, it's a nice team feel, you always celebrate together and the team cohesion is important."

Carmichael caught the eye of the Scorchers after a dominant season at women's club cricket level in Perth. The 22-year-old all-rounder signed with the Scorchers after missing out on selection for the Rio Olympics with the Hockeyroos. 

"I definitely didn't go into (last) season with the aim of getting a go with the Scorchers, it all happened very quickly," Carmichael said. "With the success of the Big Bash last season for the women, I think WBBL02 will be another success. 

"If I get opportunities to play higher levels of hockey again for Australia, I'm definitely still striving for that," she added. "Hopefully along the way I balance both of them, but obviously I'm just focusing on one thing at a time."