Debbie loves her action cricket
When she's not batting, bowling or wicket keeping her way to victory on the court, Debbie is also an avid marathon runner
To say that Debbie Eloff is a cricket lover would be an understatement.
From a very young age, Debbie started watching the sport with her dad and immediately fell in love. At school she kept a file with every cricket article she could get her hands on and she collected the special edition 50c coins, featuring the cricket icons, the beer cans which featured cricketer profiles and more recently, the cricket card promo that Pick ‘n Pay ran.
In 2003 she joined an indoor cricket team in Newcastle for a season and fell more in love with the game. She then started playing indoor cricket more seriously two years ago in the Ladies League and Social League at the Dundee Action Cricket Centre. Bitten by the action bug, she started her own teams; Whip Me, which recently won the Social League and The Pixies, who compete in the Ladies League.
“I have also played outdoor cricket but more for the fun of it at school. However, if someone gives me the opportunity, I will most definitely play again.”
Debbie describes her original love for cricket as a chance to bond with her dad but admits that over the years, this passion has grown tremendously. “Today cricket for me is a love for the action, the intensity and the thrill of a game. No matter whether we win or lose, I take the game very seriously.”
Talkative on and off the field, Debbie also credits the sport for helping her make new friends, in the form of her teammates, who have since become like family.
That camaraderie between teammates was the driving factor in their recent Social League Title win. “Winning a trophy feels awesome. Seeing the excitement on my team mates’ faces before the last few balls were bowled, already knowing we won was incredible. It felt so special to see every one so hyped and start to celebrate even before the game was over.” When she’s not batting, bowling or wicket keeping her way to victory on the court, Debbie is also an avid marathon runner. She completed over 30 half marathons and did the Memel to Newcastle walk three times already. She’s also tried her hand at bowls during the Winter Bowls Business League.
Debbie admitted that she does feel the aches and pains the next day at work after an indoor game but added that she was so used to it now, it was a new norm for her.
A huge fan of Mark Boucher, Debbie is hoping to prove that cricket isn’t just for the guys and that she too can bat and bowl her way to the top.
Talk about a keeper!
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