Just as India's master batsman Sachin Tendulkar created history in 1992 by becoming the first overseas cricketer to play for Yorkshire, England's off-spinner Laura Marsh has broken new ground as the first overseas player to represent the NSW Breakers.
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Marsh made her mark in Australia during England's triumphant 2009 World Cup campaign when she finished as the tournament's leading wicket-taker with 16 scalps.
The 28-year-old, who has scored half-centuries in all three formats for her nation, was aware of the significance of being an overseas player joining the most successful team in the history of the Women's National Cricket League.
NSW have won 17 of the 19 WNCL tournaments staged since 1995-96. The Breakers aim to win their 11th consecutive crown and Marsh's spin was identified as a weapon that could add an extra edge to the competition's traditional pace-setters.
"The Breakers are a very successful side, they've won the competition over the last 10 years, and hopefully I can contribute to some success this year," said Marsh, who has 85 wickets from 72 one-day internationals.
"[Breakers captain] Alex Blackwell asked me if I would like to come over and play in the 50-over competition and I jumped at the opportunity. It's been a brilliant experience so far, the girls have been very accommodating.
"Playing in Australia is something I've wanted to do for quite a number of years. I'm expecting it will be a tough competition, there's world-class players and some really good overseas players in it, and I believe it will be a really good challenge for my game."
Apart from her 2009 World Cup success, the pick of the tournament being her 5-15 against Pakistan, Marsh has enjoyed tremendous career highlights in Australia.
In 2009 she struck the winning runs off the last ball of the match to secure England's first victory over Australia in a ODI series in 33 years. One year later she opened both the batting and bowling in the T20 series against the Australians, and was named player of the match for her efforts in the second match.
"I have some good memories from playing in Australia and that will hopefully give me extra confidence in upcoming games," she said.
As a member of the English team that lost the Ashes to the Southern Stars over the winter Marsh intends to absorb as much as she can about the Australian game from new teammates such as Blackwell, Ellyse Perry, Rene Farrell, Alyssa Healy and Erin Osborne, who were fierce rivals only a few short months ago.
"It was an even contest, some good battles, but in the end I think we were outplayed," said Marsh. "Australia won the critical moments more often than we did and it was disappointing for us to lose the second T20 played at Hove . . . not being able to reach what was a gettable [107]. I think we were frustrated because we felt we could have won but ultimately Australia held their nerve and were the better team."
