Teen prodigy Lisa Griffith appeared lost to the game when she traded bat and ball for life in the outback but cricket found her again when she least expected it.
Eight years after she last pulled on the sky blue, Griffith returns to the NSW Breakers team for the clash against Western Australia at Blacktown on Friday.
Comeback: Lisa Griffith will make her return to the NSW Breakers side on Friday after eight years out.Credit:Peter Braig
Griffith has literally been in the wilderness during her time out of the side. While the conventional way back into a team is through runs and wickets, Griffith went very much off the beaten track.
The seam bowling all-rounder quit due to mental health issues not long after debuting as a 19-year-old for her state. Though she was studying and working outside of playing, she felt she had invested so heavily in cricket that her life became defined by it.
"I had a few issues back when I was 18. I'm still in ways dealing with those things and it's an ongoing learning process in managing that," Griffith told Fairfax Media this week.
"I tried to work a few jobs, play cricket and study when I was 18. I wasn't handling it all."
Griffith had always wanted to work at a cattle station in the desert, so that's what she did – for four years. She knew nothing about being a jillaroo, which suited her just fine. It meant she could go about her work without placing expectations on herself, as she had done with cricket.
"When I went up north I had to learn stuff from scratch, I was bottom of the pack again, there was no pressure for me to be up to a certain standard," Griffith said.
"I was paving my own way with it. I really enjoyed that aspect of it. That was one of the main things that helped me up there.
"I really liked the wide open space. I liked not many people around, it was quiet, it calmed my thoughts.
"I loved how I worked hard, gained a really big work satisfaction. I could see the jobs that we were doing, we were achieving something.
"It helped me develop a better sense of self, helped my relationships with people, committing to jobs each day. It really broadened my horizons."
Griffith returned home to Bathurst to study agriculture while working at a stock and station agent.
"It wasn't to play cricket. Cricket has kind of happened," she said.
In her first game back for a men's team her resolve was tested after bowling "eight to 10 wides" in her first over, but she could "laugh it off". Through the region's tie with Penrith Cricket Club she ended up back at grade level and was picked for NSW Country at the Australian Country Cricket Championships, where she caught the eye of NSW with her all-round performances.
Griffith feels she is now better placed to deal with the challenges of the game so that it no longer consumes her. Among her goals are to represent Australia but she is happy to be back in state colours.
"I didn't think I would come this far. I'm really stoked with the inroads I've made with skills, strength and conditioning, the sports psychologist, around the office, learning to be a more friendly and open person," Griffith said.
"If the Australian team was to come later that would be a massive bonus but I have to be realistic. To have seven years off, I've got a lot of work to do in the next few years, which I'll be doing my best to do."
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