Cricket has seen some dramatic changes over the last few years with the introduction and role of T20 cricket above all, but one other area of the sport that has developed hugely over the last decade, and continues to do so, is the prominence, importance and indeed level of the Women’s game. Four years ago the Dragon was lucky enough to have Maia Bouchier in the school, the first ever girl to represent the 1st XI. Maia has gone on to achieve great things in cricket during her time at Rugby School and is currently part of the England Under 19 Squad and has realistic aspirations of going on to receive full national colours. With the Dragon girls having just had a very successful taster of cricket in their annual match against Primrose Hill, I managed to catch up with Maia and asked her to reflect on the influence she feels the Dragon had on her cricket and where her future is heading.
Q: Maia, since leaving the Dragon I understand that your cricket has gone from strength to strength. Can you tell me which teams you have represented since leaving the Dragon and who you are currently playing for?
A: Past teams: England Women’s Development Programme U15 / Middlesex Women’s U15 / Rugby School U15 A / Rugby School U16 A
Current teams: England Women’s Development Programme U19 / Middlesex Senior Team / Middlesex U19 /Rugby School 2nd XI
Q: How much of your success do you attribute to the coaching and opportunities that you had here at the Dragon? Do you believe your experience of playing against boys from an early age made a difference?
A: The Dragon was the first school team I played for and it was a challenge to play against the boys. Mr Went had a real impact on my cricket and he made me feel comfortable playing in a boys team and we had a great side – the Dragon 1st XI was unbeaten in my last year – and it made a huge difference to play with outstanding cricketers like Hector Hardman (now in the Eton 1st XI) and Jonty Robinson.
Q: You have obviously already achieved a lot in the game, but what are your aspirations going forward?
A: My aspiration is to play for England. But first I need to be a regular for the U19 England team and that is my target for this summer.
Q: What is your advice to girls out there who are interested in cricket, but are worried about the fact that it is traditionally a male dominated sport?
A: Girls should just enjoy their sport and not be afraid to take on the boys – we can be just as good as them. I have such fun playing in a team and we all get on so well. When you play cricket you spend a lot of time with your team and become real friends. All Dragon girls should play cricket. It is SO much better than rounders!
Q: Are there any other female cricketers that you particularly look up to and why?
A: Charlotte Edwards is a great ambassador for the game and she is a role model for me because she played all her junior cricket with boys and she was also the youngest women player for England (she was 15 – one year younger than me). And Holly Colvin too – she came to visit the Dragon and she was the first England cricketer I met.
Q: Finally, if you go on to play for England in an ODI or Test Match do you think Mr Baugh and Mr Knapp should arrange for a whole school trip to come and support you?
A: Yes please, that would be amazing – I’ll need all the support I can get!
Maia is in the thick of her GCSEs and I am very grateful to her for giving up the time to answer these questions.I was lucky enough in my playing days to do a lot of training with England Captain Charlotte Edwards as she was based in Northamptonshire. I was always blown away by her professionalism and drive as well as her outstanding ability, all of which we can also attribute to Maia. All of us here who were lucky enough to coach Maia would say that her ability, enthusiasm, determination to succeed, and the way she was simply unfazed by the fact she was playing with boys, was a pleasure to see and can hopefully be an inspiration to all the girls out there who want to play cricket and indeed who have dreams to go all the way in any sport.
