Melbourne, Dec 7 (PTI): Australian leg-spinner Alana King is savouring the prospect of playing in front of her extended family in India during the five-T20 series, where a good show can set her up for the upcoming women’s IPL.
The five T20 games will be held in Mumbai, beginning with the opening match on December 9.While King was born in Australia, her parents Leroy and Sharon were born in Chennai before they moved to Melbourne.
“A few family friends might be making the trip,” King told AAP.
“There are a few in Mumbai. Hopefully I get to see them and they get to see me play in the flesh. That will be cool.”
The 27-year-old has made multiple family trips to India, most recently being in 2016 when she met up with several cousins and family friends.
“When I do speak to them it is like nothing has changed and that could be a few months apart. And that would be cool for them to see me play cricket,” King said.
“I am sure WhatsApp will start blowing up close to the game.”
King, who played for the Supernovas in the T20 Challenge earlier this year in India, has been in good form in the last 12 months.
After debuting in last year’s Ashes, she went on to snap 31 wickets at 20.87 in all formats, playing a pivotal role in Australia retaining that trophy, winning the 50-over World Cup and Commonwealth Games gold.
While the series marks the build-up to the T20 World Cup in South Africa beginning February 10, it will be important for the players as a good show can help land lucrative deals in the inaugural women’s IPL which is set to be held in March.
“It’s pretty much at the forefront of everyone’s mind that there is an IPL coming up,” King said.“Everyone would love to put their hand up for it. It’s going to be big, and quite big. Everyone has been crying out for it for some time.
“It won’t just help the international game, but the domestic game as well. It’s going to be great and hopefully I can get the tap on the shoulder. But it’s all focus on Mumbai for now,” she signed off.
