Surrey and England women’s cricket star Ebony Rainford-Brent has experienced the highs and lows of cricket over the last couple of weeks.

Playing for her Club side Port Adelaide in South Australia, Rainford-Brent encountered some of the more extreme playing conditions with temperatures soaring as high as 38 degrees.

“It was the hottest day of cricket I've experienced, and other cricket in lower levels was called off, but not ours. We fielded first and had to watch the opposition rack up a massive score of 230 – one of their state players scored a ton, which did not help our cause.”

Rainford-Brent experienced the frailties of cricket by going from an incredible match winning innings of 98 not out one week to a low score the following match. However she explains that this will help her as she progresses as a cricketer.

“I was so hot in the field and I was really struggling after 30 overs in. My fellow English mate, Jenny Thompson, ducked under a cold shower mid-innings, which I think I may do next time!”

“At the end of the game some of the guys I play with gave me a few hints to stay cool, like using cooling neck crystals or soaking your cap in the drinks-break ice and making sure you're properly hydrated. It was a huge learning experience to play in such extreme heat and in hindsight actually great experience for the future.”

It was the heat that played a part in the way that the Surrey star batted and unfortunately contributed to her eventual downfall. Having struggled to cope in the field, she came in at her customary position of number three but could not get going.

“I could not concentrate enough to watch the ball all the way on to the bat and did not have any energy to move my feet. I was eventually trapped lbw to a good outswinger and headed straight for the cold shower. We put up a fight and my experienced team-mate Jatz added 70 to go with her four wickets but sadly it was not enough.”

Away from Saturday cricket, Rainford-Brent is showing her battling qualities and fighting hard for England’s reputation. After the England women retained the Ashes, there was a little unease in Australia and a few lads in her club have set up a competition in the nets. She won the first contest but has since been approached by a few more club members, who want to bowl at her to try and get her out.

You will have to stay tuned to {error} to see how she gets on, both on the field of play and in the nets.

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