Today's Edition
KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)
At 16, Sofia Velic is still finding her feet in international cricket, but the leg-spinner is already making heads turn on the big stage three matches into her debut.
The youngest member of Indonesia’s women’s team at the Asia Cup in Dubai, Velic arrived at the tournament for her first taste of international cricket. Her team may be minnows and hope of winning matches may be far-fetched, but she left her mark immediately.
In the first group game against Bangladesh, she claimed the wicket of captain and mainstay Nigar Sultana, while adding another two wickets against the UAE.
In between she had one more wicket against defending champions Sri Lanka; her four wickets coming even though her captain Nanda Sakarini used her very late in each innings on spin-friendly wickets.
For a teenager raised in Australia, her journey representing Indonesia has been an unconventional one.
The daughter of a Bosnian father and Indonesian mother, Velic grew up in Australia and plays first-grade Premier Cricket in Brisbane for Sandgate Gators. Her connection to Indonesia became a sporting opportunity only this year, after she obtained dual citizenship.
"I started playing at a very young age. I started eight years ago when I was about, I think, I was in Grade four or something," she said.
Velic was not always destined to become a leg-spinner. She began as a pace bowler before making the switch at around 12, partly because she felt her height was a disadvantage in Australia.
The change has already proven fruitful. Her first international wicket – Bangladesh captain – remains her favourite, a milestone that confirmed her potential at the highest level.
"The Bangladesh captain was definitely special. That was my first international wicket," she said. "I think today I was happy with how I bowled. I got definitely more turn on the ball. But I would say I value all my wickets."
There is no shortage of inspiration behind her craft. Velic looks to two of Australia’s finest leg-spinners as her role models. "Definitely Shane Warne and Alana King. Of course, the Aussies, they're just the best to watch.. best leg spinners," she said.
The Dubai pitches have offered her an ideal environment to develop that skill. Compared with the conditions she encounters in Australia, Velic has relished the assistance available to spin.
"Dubai was great out here. Just like the turn, I think every spin I had a blast," she said. "In Australia, it's a bit harder, so a bit more bounce, but the Dubai wicket was definitely the best, I think."
Despite her age and limited international experience, Velic is comfortable bowling at different stages of an innings. She is equally willing to take the new ball or wait until it becomes older.
"I don't mind. Honestly, I think I don't really mind where I bowl. I'm happy with either the new ball or a bit of an older ball," she said.
Representing Indonesia while living and playing in Australia also presents its own challenges. Velic tries to visit Bali and Jakarta as often as she can, but her cricket commitments in Brisbane mean she cannot spend as much time with her international teammates as she would like.
"Of course, I love cricket. But my parents are also pretty hard on the studying," she said. "But I think developing and making a future in Indonesian cricket, would definitely be a big ambition of mine."
