Photo Credit: Cricket Scotland
This Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Week, we’ll be finding out more about some of the women involved in our game, and how they are inspiring inclusion.
WHO ARE YOU?
Emily Divine – Disability Development Manager for Cricket Scotland
HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN CRICKET?
I got involved in cricket through my current role! I’m originally from Edinburgh but moved to the Isle of Arran when I was younger. I have lived in lots of places over Scotland and now am based in Glasgow.
I’ve been involved in sport since I could walk – mostly dance, taekwondo and swimming. I took part and competed in these when I was younger, then started competing more seriously in dance at university in national competitions which was an amazing experience. I did a Masters in Sport Psychology as I decided I really wanted a career in sport; it’s such a great sector to be a part of and I also love watching pretty much any live sport, so it’s a massive part of my life!
WHAT HAVE BEEN YOUR EXPERIENCES OF CRICKET?
I had watched cricket before but had never taken part or been involved in the sport, so when I started working at Cricket Scotland I had never batted or bowled; then I got the opportunity to join in at a Wee Bash and absolutely loved it. It’s safe to say I have been converted!
WHY SHOULD GIRLS AND WOMEN GET INVOLVED IN CRICKET?
My role model in women’s sport is Simone Biles-Owens – the amount she’s done for women’s sport and the importance of mental wellbeing in sport is amazing. I think it’s super important that we acknowledge that we are strong, and our bodies can do amazing things, but we need to listen to what we need and honour our body to do it – and that includes in cricket.
Cricket Scotland, formerly the Scottish Cricket Union, is the governing body for cricket in Scotland, based at the National Cricket Academy in Edinburgh. Established in 1908 and restructured in 2001, it became an ICC Associate Member in 1994. The organization includes three sub-associations: the East of Scotland Cricket Association, Western District Cricket Union, and Aberdeenshire Cricket Association.
