Lifting the Spirit

In the middle of a major Test series it's a fine effort for women's cricket to earn a double-page spread in the Age's sports section. Chloe Saltau spend some time with the Victoria women's team, the Spirit, and their coach Cathryn Fitzpatrick.

Earlier in the year she asked each member of the team to research a player, so they could understand better what it means to represent their state. There is a secret players' code known as "The Wilson", after the legendary former all-rounder Betty Wilson. Attempts to discover the meaning of The Wilson are met with silence, but it is safe to say the forthright 86-year-old who still attends every game in Melbourne embodies the hardness and determination to which the Spirit players aspire.