Talented players from the Cricket NSW Academy Illawarra-Southern girls' squad enjoyed a training session with the Breakers at the SCG Indoor Centre recently.
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The girls took part in a range of batting, bowling and fielding drills under the watchful eyes of NSW captain Alex Blackwell and young Breakers all-rounder Stefanie Daffara, now an Academy development coach for the region.
In addition, five-time world champion Blackwell spoke to the Illawarra-Southern squad members on a range of cricket issues.
"One of the big tips I gave them was to seek feedback, and to know that the feedback was coming from a place of care," Blackwell said.
"If someone actually sits down with you and says you need to work on something, they are doing that because they want you to be a better player. It is important not to take it personally and to seek out people for feedback.
"The girls also asked me about my experience as an Australian player and some of the challenges and highlights. I pointed out that cricket can sometimes be a tough game, but things can turn around very quickly."
The initiative to bring regional Academy squads to Sydney began last season, providing young cricketers from outside of Sydney with access to the facilities and specialist coaches at Cricket NSW.
"I think that these girls are really fortunate to have these squads because for me, coming from the Riverina, there weren't that many girls playing," Blackwell said.
Daffara was part of Cricket NSW's development program in the Illawarra-Southern region before earning a place in the Breakers squad at the start of last summer.
Daffara is now working as a development coach with the new crop of talent.
"It shows her how much she has really grown as a cricketer so she can be excited about how much she's achieved so far in her career," Blackwell said.