NATALIE: I WANT HEAPS MORE GIRLS TO TAKE UP CRICKET

WITH the new cricket season almost upon us top women's player Natalie Heap would love to see more females take up the game in her native North Wales.
Welsh international Natalie, 20, not only captains Hawarden Park in Division Two of the Cheshire County Women's League, she also represents the club's men's teams in the North Wales League.
A fast bowler, the Llysfaen talent is also a regular for the Cheshire Cricket Board side in the ECB Women's County Championship Division Two.
Natalie, who is studying sports coaching at Chester University's Warrington campus, admits the lack of girls' cricket teams - or any sort of girls' league - in North Wales has frustrated her over the years.
"I did play for Conwy Celts in the (Colwyn Bay and District Wednesday Cricket League) which was set up as a women's side, but more often than not we needed men to fill in as there were not enough girls interested," said the former Ysgol Bryn Elian, Colwyn Bay, pupil who began her cricket career playing for boys teams when aged around 11.
"I think some girls find cricket boring, but what I'd say is if you play one sport like squash or tennis, you should pick up cricket and start enjoying it very quickly.
"I remember a few years back John Huband (North Wales cricket development officer) tried to start a North Wales team for women, but there was not enough interest."
Right-arm bowler Natalie, who describes herself as fast at women's level but medium when playing against men, boasts career best figures of 4-9 for Hawarden Park ladies against Neston and for Cheshire her top analysis reads 4-26 versus Surrey in 2010. Capable with the bat, she has registered a century for Park.
She has been playing for Cheshire for three seasons and is about to embark on her fifth year with Hawarden.
Natalie is a true sporting all-rounder as she also once played football for Bolton Wanderers and represented Wales Under-16s, and plays hockey at a high standard for Lymm.
Cricket is her chief sport, however, and she has a very lofty ambition.
"I need to try to be more consistent so I might have a chance of getting picked for England," she said. "You never know when you are going to be watched, so it's a case of trying to play as well as you can all the time."
Natalie's cricketing hero is Katherine Brunt, an aggressive right-arm quick bowler from Yorkshire who has been an integral part of the highly successful England women's team of recent seasons.
As for advice to young girls wanting to become the next Charlotte Edwards or Isa Guha, Natalie believes the best way to get noticed is to take on the men.
"If you want to get picked for your county you could join a men's team as you can test yourself against better players.
"The counties don't scout, I was lucky to be playing for Conwy seconds at the right time, got a contact phone number and it all took off from there.
"If you think you are a good player, though, you could join a club in Division Two of the Cheshire County League as you have more chance of getting spotted for the county, or if you just enjoy the fun and social side, you could join Conwy Celts.
"I'd also like to see more girls teams start in North Wales too, though. Cricket's a great sport that you can't get enough of once you start playing."