Fitzpatrick awarded with coaching scholarship

Cathryn Fitzpatrick, Australia's opening bowler, has become the first woman cricketer to be awarded a coaching scholarship by the Australian Sports Commission (ASC). Fresh from her World Cup triumph in South Africa, Fitzpatrick will base herself in Brisbane and begin the scholarship this week. Tim Nielsen, the current head coach of the Commonwealth Bank Centre of Excellence, Justin Langer and Matthew Inness, the Victorian fast bowler, were previous recipients of the award.

The scholarship is in place to help fast-track recipients in their development as future coaches. Fitzpatrick will take 12 months leave from her job with Australia Post to work with the men's and women's elite squads at the Commonwealth Bank Centre of Excellence in Brisbane, and will be mentored by the senior coaches there. The scholarship also involves tertiary study through the University of Queensland.

James Sutherland, Cricket Australia's CEO, congratulated Fitzpatrick on receiving the scholarship post. "Cathryn stood out as someone with a real future in coaching, and we had no hesitation nominating her for the position. She has an outstanding knowledge of the game and an ability to coach and develop others in the sport.

Fitzpatrick said that she hoped to build her coaching experience and knowledge through the scholarship program with a view to forging a longer term career in the field. She has worked as a satellite coach with the Australian Institute of Sport women's program and has coached her club side in Victoria, Dandenong, for eight years. "I have been involved in cricket as a player for over 20 years and as a coach for the past 10 years," she said. "I'm passionate about the game and I see coaching as one way to continue my association well into the future, and hopefully being able to pass on some of my skills and experience to others coming through the system."