Hard-working Lucy sets sights on England place

Lucy Amos is setting her sights high. Currently captaining Sudbury Ladies, 14-year-old Lucy has her eyes firmly fixed on one day making the England squad.

The youngest Ladies captain in the club’s history, all-rounder Lucy is following in her father Willie’s footsteps by turning out for the Friars Street club.

She not only captains the Ladies for a second season, but is also a regular in the club’s third team, as well as turning out for the occasional friendly.

“I grew up watching my dad and my brothers play cricket. It sparked an interest, so I thought I would give it a try to see if it was as good as it looked,” said Lucy.

After coming through the junior ranks at Friars Street, she made her debut for the Ladies at the age of 12, ‘when they were a player short’.

She took over as captain midway through last season when the then captain, Ali Mahan, had to step down. “The other players put me forward,” said Lucy.

“Lucy brings so much energy and enthusiasm,” said club chairman Louis Brooks.

“I knew she would be an excellent appointment carrying on the excellent work by Ali.”

Lucy is a pupil at Gosfield School, having been awarded a cricket scholarship there.

Sudbury’s overseas player, Kiwi Tim Johnston, is based at the school, which is developing and improving its academy.“I have had some one-on-one coaching sessions with Tim, which have really been helpful,” she said.

“Dustin Melton and all the other junior coaches have helped me improve my game.”

But Lucy credits her father with teaching her a lot about the game, and helping to develop her talent. “The club and the coaches are now building on that.”

Lucy’s ambition is to represent England – ‘I want to play as high as I can to achieve that’ – and the next step towards it could lie with Essex. The county club helps with coaching at Gosfield School, which puts her on their radar.

She has also appeared for a Colchester side, through the Essex connection, in a strong county-wide Sunday league. Her father, and mother Lisa, are getting accustomed to travelling.

They will be off to Malvern in August when Lucy, who is in the Suffolk development squad, is on tour with the Suffolk Under-15s.

Sudbury Ladies Beaumont League Twenty20 fixtures end in Jul, but Lucy will still be totally involved at the club.

“With training I’m down there six or seven days a week,” said Lucy, who is putting in the hard yards as she bids to achieve her ambition.

* The team is looking for more players. Nets are Thursdays at 6.30pm. There will be a ladies softball festival and barbecue on July 13 at 6pm. Register at www.sudburycricket.co.uk

* Sudbury Ladies host Eight Ash Green at Friars Street tomorrow (6pm).