She’s known as being a bit of a character with a big smile on her face. She looks on the bright side and when injury put a halt to her season she didn’t let it get her down. Now, White Fern Lucy Doolan has made a quick recovery and is ready for duty in the West Indies.
During the first week of the women’s domestic competition, playing for the Wellington Blaze, Doolan injured her knee. It wasn’t going to stop her playing, however as the season went on the injury went from bad to worse. “I found out it had to be operated on,” she reflected. “I had a choice. Either I play through the Rose Bowl series against Australia or I have the surgery and hope I’d be ready in time for the ICC World Twenty20 competition and the UK tour in June.”
She chose the latter. The first few weeks after the surgery were hard however in the fourth week after the surgery she was running confidently, knowing the international stage was just around the corner.
While Doolan was injured, she also had the opportunity to watch her team mates in action against the Australians in a Twenty20 game at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington. “It was really cool, you don’t often get to watch the girls when you are playing but I was able to sit back and see them in action,” she said. “I was so proud of them smashing the Aussies!”
This is only the third season Doolan has played for the White Ferns and it will be the first time the team has travelled to the West Indies. Doolan is looking forward to experiencing something new. “I’m not too sure what to expect regarding the West Indies. I think it will be a culture shock because we don’t often get to go to a place like that,” she said. “It will be awesome especially playing with the girls again.
“Hopefully we can bring back the title.”
The hustle and bustle of the West Indies has Doolan excited about headed over there. So too is the opportunity to play in front of some good crowds. “I think the people will make it such a party,” she said.
After the Twenty20 competition in the Caribbean, Doolan heads to England to play for a county side. “There’s five weeks between the West Indies and the White Ferns’ tour of England,” she said. “So I’m going to play for Nottingham during that time.”
Quick questions
1. What would your advice be for younger players wanting to become a White Fern?
Just play your game, practice hard and hopefully it will happen
2. Who’s your favourite White Fern to room with while on tour?
Amy Satterthwaite. You’re never late to anything when she is around. She’s very organised!
3. What can’t you live without when you are on tour?
A good, long book for the long haul flight
4. What’s your secret vice while you are on tour?
I love lounging around in my favourite pyjama pants! They are cotton, three quarters with white and red checks
5. Do you have a message for White Fern supporters?
Expect great things! Hopefully we can put in a good show, so keep up the support!
