Get to know Grace Wetherall - UTS North Sydney
Grace Wetherall is a fast-bowling, big-hitting all-rounder who hails from Jersey, in the Channel Islands (between England and France). She's been playing for Jersey since 2019 when she was just 12, and has racked up 41 appearances with a high score of 68 last month against rivals, Guernsey. Grace also plays English county cricket for Wiltshire.
Q1: Describe the moment you first fell in love with Cricket and what drew you to it?
Grace: I first fell in love with cricket when I was 15. Even though Jersey didn’t qualify for division one, we were all still so happy and proud about how hard we had worked for each other as a team. We didn’t see it as failure; we saw it as something we needed to work on. That feeling was different to any other sports I had played before. I was drawn to cricket because of the friendly atmosphere and the caring people. I’ve played with Jersey for eight years now, and I’m proud to say they aren’t just my teammates, they are my second family.
Q2: What is your best cricket memory?
Grace: I would have to say, my best cricket memories were playing against the Ireland under 19s and taking a 6-fer my first time bowling seam for Jersey!
Q3: What has been the most challenging obstacle you have faced in your sporting career so far and how did you overcome it?
Grace: For me, the most challenging thing that I have faced is the mental side to the sport. I have faced many setbacks due to injuries and other issues that have come my way, which greatly affected my mental state towards the game. I am now able to deal with this through speaking to a sport psychologist who gave me techniques and methods to get past the tough points.
Q4: Is there one moment from last season that you consider your most memorable highlight?
Grace: The most memorable highlight for me last season was winning the ECN challenger league in Malaga for Jersey. The game was very close and the team came together and left everything we had on the pitch!
Q5: What is one thing that we will find in your game-day lunch box?
Grace: A red bull… always play a game with a red bull.
Q6: Have there been any life lessons or values that you’ve learnt from Cricket that you apply to everyday life?
Grace: Cricket has taught me that it is better to work as a team than on your own. There is no ‘I’ in team.
Q7: What was your first impression of the club?
Grace: My first impressions of North Sydney Cricket have been amazing. Everyone has been so lovely and welcoming, which made it really easy to settle in. The coaches are incredible; they’ve already helped me improve my cricket skills so much in a short amount of time. I’m really grateful to be part of such a supportive and positive club.
Q8: What has been your favourite thing to do since arriving in Sydney?
Grace: My favourite thing about being in Sydney has to be all the shops and the amazing views! Coming from a small island with the same local spots I’ve seen since I was little, it’s so nice to be somewhere new with such a fresh and exciting atmosphere.
Q9: What are you most looking forward to about the season?
Grace: I’m really looking forward to the season with the Bears! I can’t wait to play more cricket, keep improving, and have fun with such a talented and enthusiastic bunch of cricketers. I’m also super excited to experience playing on different wickets from the UK and in much hotter conditions; it’s going to be an awesome season!
The art of captaincy with Kevin Roberts. Creating a scenario that challenges the mindset of players – click to unlock the full conversation.