Twining, the shape of things to come

New South Wales women's cricket hasn't exactly been starved of great players over the years. Names like Belinda Clark, Lisa Keightley, Lyn Larsen, Molly Dive, Denise Annetts and Christina Matthews roll off the tongue about as easily as the state seems to win national titles.

Yet you could still be forgiven for thinking that Emma Twining shapes as being one of its best ever.

She comes from humble origins in the western suburbs of Sydney, adopts a humble, no-nonsense approach to her cricket, and - much like any humble club cricketer - fits in practice around her professional commitments as a primary school teacher. But hers is no humble talent.

Though about to embark on only her fourth season at the elite level of the game in Australia, the left armer is arguably the most gifted female fast bowler in the country. And while, at 21, she still seems too young to have achieved such an exalted mantle, her rise has to be set in the general context of a history that has challenged convention.

"I was a bit of a late starter actually; I didn't begin playing until I was about 13 or 14. A lot of the girls I play with now started when they were about 10, and played cricket with boys. That's something I never did, either," says the player known to audiences as Emma Liddell prior to her marriage earlier this year.

As the leader of a whole new generation of talent in New South Wales, Twining is perfectly placed not only to renew the state's presence at the head of the women's game, but also to help it chart new territory. One of the few areas in which it hasn't been on top in recent times is in the production of fast bowlers. Yet, in Twining, the Blues suddenly find themselves with a player as well equipped as anyone to inspire Victoria's displacement as the country's pre-eminent nursery of quick bowlers.

"Emma is a player who could change the face of quick bowling generally, and not just in the sense of where those bowlers come from," argues former New South Wales and now national coach, Steve Jenkin.

"If a young left handed bowler with a bit of pace can be developed, it will have very advantageous effects."

Much like many of her deliveries, Twining has already breezed through schoolgirl and underage cricket in the manner of a cyclone. And, to this point, her progress at senior level has not been any less swift.

"She was unlucky to miss out on the (recently-completed Australian) tour of England, and she's a definite chance to make the team to play New Zealand in the six one-day games this season," says Jenkin.

"She's got a great work ethic. She's improved her game every single year and, in the last 12 months in particular, she's spent a lot of time refining her technique."

The generally fickle nature of media coverage of women's cricket in Australia has ensured that she has so far been cast in little of the nationwide spotlight. But Twining's star has shone as brightly as that of any player in recent times in the country's elite female competition - the National Women's Cricket League.

With 17 victims, for instance, she was its leading wicket taker last summer. And, just for anyone who hadn't been sufficiently convinced by that form, she emphatically announced her presence during its two most important matches, capturing seven scalps at low cost to be officially anointed as the 'Player of the Finals Series'.

It's probably no surprise, then, that she's clearly thrilled by the scent of a new season and the countdown to the Blues' first matches (against South Australia in Wollongong this weekend) for 2001-02. And of opportunities anew for a squad facing the unfamiliar prospect of being without Clark's inspirational leadership following the national captain's move to Victoria.

"Everyone sees this season as being a little bit different because there is no Belinda. There's also a new coach and, with 'Jules' (Julie Hayes) taking on the role as captain, that's good in a lot of ways because it means it's almost like a new beginning.

"I think our team will be quite pumped when we get the chance to come up against Belinda. It's tended to be pretty fiery when we've played Victoria the last couple of years anyway so those games will be really interesting, I think.

"I just want to get out there and start playing again; I know it's a bit clichéd but we're a side that works very hard together and, when we're all out there for the Blues, it's a really exciting feeling.

"For me, the feeling that has come from playing in some of our wins in finals has been awesome. Just unbelievable."

And what of the prospect that a higher calling - in the way of an international appearance - might be beckoning for Twining this summer?

"Making the national squad last season, I like to see that as being something to build on. This season's very important in that sense: so that I can back that experience up and not just be happy with doing that for one season. I want to be able to get there again and, if there is a position available, be the one to be picked."

Clearly, significant challenges still await Twining before she can truly or even loosely be classified as a great. Today's rising star can easily become tomorrow's fallen hero.

But those closely associated with New South Wales women's cricket strongly suspect they are on to another winner. Even for all of their success, they know as well as anyone that brilliant pace bowlers don't come along very often.