We talked with Gabby Sullivan about her Magicians domestic contract for the coming season
How does securing this contract validate all the hard work and sacrifices you have put into your training behind the scenes?
I am really grateful to receive a domestic contract, especially coming back from injury, after a long time away. It’s the 2nd time doing the injury and I still have the passion and desire to play domestic cricket so I never considered to putting it aside, so it’s not a tough decision to get the rehab done. You just accept that this injury sucks – but you know what you need to do rehab wise.
How has your approach to fitness and injury recovery changed now compared to the earlier years of your career?
It has been very different since the first time I had a back injury, although there was also plenty of support then. Now I have a way better idea on what you need and what to train in to succeed and I can be independently connecting with others going through similar recovery processes. I know how to reach out and we are lucky that the Magicians are one of the best supported domestic sides with excellent staff.
What is your approach to being a “senior” player?Â
I seem like an senior player now, I am not sure how that happened! but I like to take a bit more of a “behind the scenes” role especially with a younger group who will always have questions
I don’t really have an approach so to speak, but I want to be approachable, and help make the new players feel comfortable and welcome so that they can ask any questions.
What is the biggest lesson you have learned from past seasons that you plan to share with the rest of the group this year?
As a young side they are so exciting, it is going to be a really fun year and really important to keep the positivity up. Its a tough sport, a sport of failures, so by keeping the team culture and the belief I am sure the benefits will come through. New players can be really tough on themselves, that’s something I am mindful of, so I want to encourage them to enjoy their cricket.  Â
Looking at the newly announced squad makeup, which young player or new teammate are you most excited to see break through this season?
I am pleased for everyone, there are two new younger players Stella and Ciara and Olivia Gain from Otago. Ciara Hartland is still at secondary school. I remember what it was like as I was also contracted while I was at Secondary School so she will be excited. She brings lots of energy as an 18 year old.
You are known for sharing your cricket journey at our junior club prizegiving’s. How important is it to you to stay connected to your grassroots clubs while balancing a high-performance career?
I love being involved when I can. This is where your cricket journey starts, for me it was 6 years old at Sumner Cricket at St Leonards Square and I loved being involved in their fundraising for a new pavilion. When you get to see those representative players around the club it is so exciting, when I moved to St Albans Cricket Club both Leah and Amy were always around at training and as a 15 or 16 year old it was awesome. (Gabby was selected at 17 for the Magicians in 2015/16). We all know its really important that if younger players can see you succeed they can be inspired to be in your shoes. Just look at Izzy Sharp at the World Cup!
As a returning pro, how proud does it make you to see your home club so strongly represented in this year’s announced squad?
When I first moved to North West we all saw and talked about the potential and waiting a few years to now see the players come through has been awesome, it’s not just that – they are so humble.
Thanks Gabby!
North-West Women's Cricket 