Interview with Indoor & Outdoor cricket star Holly Huddleston

In2Indoor had the privilege of catching up with Holly Huddlestone this week as she starts her preparations for the 2014 Indoor Cricket World Cup. Holly will be representing the New Zealand Open Ladies team and this will be her second World Cup. Holly also represents the New Zealand Ladies outdoor cricket team the White Ferns. We were lucky enough to have a chat to her about all things indoor and outdoor. 

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What did you play first, indoor cricket or outdoor cricket?

I started playing outdoor first when I was about 13.

What prompted you to start playing indoor cricket and how old were you?

A few of the girls from my club team played indoor cricket socially and invited me to come along and give it a try, I was about 17 at the time

Are you more of a batter or a bowler in outdoor cricket?

I am more of a bowler, I bowl right arm medium fast and tend to bat lower down the order, but I have aspirations of batting a bit higher up the order.

Do you adapt you bowling style and line and length for indoor cricket?

Not really, a lot of the principles are the same, I need to stay tall and keep my line tidy. I do vary my length a little depending on the bowling plan. In outdoor the length is generally just back of a length, but that would be easy pickings in Indoor, the batter can just rock back and pull or cut down into the net. So I tend to bowl a bit fuller when I’m playing indoor.

What do you enjoy most about indoor cricket?

I would say batting, believe it or not I’m actually more of a batter in indoor cricket and the fielding is great too, being close to the action and being able to take catches and get run outs from anywhere on the court. It’s also good to be so close to the rest of your team

Do you feel indoor cricket has improved your outdoor game?

Yes I would say so, it definitely improves your reactions which is really when valuable when you are fielding in the ring. One thing that has also helped my batting is waiting for the ball and playing it under my eyes so that I’m not pushing at it.

You mentioned that you had to change your bowling length a bit and the batting technique in indoor is also quite different to outdoor cricket, do you find it difficult to adjust between playing outdoor and indoor?

When I was younger I found it a bit difficult, but the more you play the easier it is to adjust. Of course I play the occasional down up in outdoor, but if you’re playing a down up you’re normally getting out of a tricky situation so I think it’s a not such a bad thing.

How do you prepare for a major tournament? Is it challenging that the players come from all over New Zealand?

It is a bit challenging as the players are from all over New Zealand, but we have a few camps throughout the year where the whole team gets together and aside from that the girls from Auckland will get together during the week and train together. I have been playing a lot of outdoor too, so that definitely helps my personal preparation.

Do you work full time?

Yes, I work in the import and export industry

How do you manage to balance your work, sport and personal life?

I have a very understanding boss. The company understands that I have certain commitments and they are fairly flexible with my schedule, but there are lots of early morning training sessions for outdoor and some late nights for indoor, but I try and throw a few social events in too to find a bit of balance.

Have you toured internationally with the White Ferns or the Indoor side? Where is your favourite destination to tour?

Yes, I’ve just got back from the Caribbean with the White Ferns and I have also been to Bangladesh for the Twenty 20 World Cup at the beginning of the year. For Indoor I went to South Africa for the 2005 U19 World Cup and to Australia for the World Cup in 2009. My favourite destination would have to be the Caribbean though, great to wake up to sunny hot weather and have the beach on your door step.

What are your most memorable moments in indoor cricket and in outdoor cricket?

For indoor it would be beating South Africa for the first time and hitting the winning runs and for outdoor it would be when I to a 5 wicket haul in my second game against the West Indies. I ended with figures of 5/36 and we went on to win the match


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