Women’s Cricket Lifts Off In USA

April 2nd, 2009
The United States of America Cricket Association (USACA) recently introduced organized women’s cricket at the national level with an inaugural tournament in Florida, and featuring two squads of female cricketers representing the east and west coasts of the United States.

Olga Charles

Newyorkcricket.com recently asked some of the trail-blazing female cricketers to describe their roles in the sphere of female cricketing, a peak into their lives, and where they see themselves cricket-wise in five years. Here is the first of those profiles.

Meet…
Olga Charles, wife, mother, female cricketer

Where were you born?
Republic of Trinidad & Tobago

Does/did anyone else in your family play cricket?
No

How did you become involved in cricket?
I started out playing in high School

What are some of the teams you have represented, so far?
Mucurapo Senior Comprehensive, I also played for Port-of-Spain General Hospital while in Trinidad. While in the USA, I played in the People’s Choice league with two different teams, one of which was Enforcers alongside Beverly and Sandra Brown and One Love ladies team with my current fellow teammate Joy Jones.

Who is your sports idol and/or mentor, cricket or otherwise?
Vivian Richards.

How often do you play, since there isn’t a formal women’s cricket program?
Since there isn’t a formal women’s cricket program, I’ve played at least twice a year at the men’s night cricket in Brooklyn, NY.

What is needed to improve the game for females in the USA?
Right now I believe we have gotten off to a good start, however, what is needed is a place to practice that the females can call their own and be able to practice at any time and for the duration that is needed.

Tell us a little bit about yourself beside your cricketing life?
I’m the second to last of eight children; I’ve been married to my husband Junior for 25 years, with two children of my own Nigel 25 and Candice 21. I currently work in sales. My hobbies are reading, dancing and cricket at the top of my list. I also try to make the gym at least three times a week.

How was the tour to Florida and how did you benefit from it?
The Florida tour was a great success in terms of management. From that tour it made me realize that with hard work and determination anything can be accomplished. I also got to see all of the ladies come together for one common goal which is to get women’s cricket off to a great and positive start. It is a great feeling being part of the inaugural women’s cricket tournament in the USA. I sincerely hope that everyone continues to do their part, so that it is a successful organization for years and years to come.

What are your favorite movies, music and food dishes?
Dirty Dancing, Pretty Woman, Shawshank Redemption and The Rock. Being from Trinidad & Tobago, soca music is at the top of my list, followed closely by R&B, but loving to dance as much as I do, I enjoy all types of music. I Love a good curry dish, crab and dumplings, pelau and souse.

What are your batting and bowling styles?
I am a right-arm medium pace bowler, and a right-arm lower-order bat.

As a batswoman, what's your highest score and against which team?
My highest score was 28 against Wingate Women’s team.

What's the most runs you have scored in a single inning?
28 runs in a 20-Overs match.

What's your best batting average, and against which team?
Again that would be Wingate women’s team.

As a bowler, what's your best bowling performance?
My best bowling performance was a hat-trick against Providence Women team.

What's the most wickets you have taken in a single match?
Four wickets.

What do you consider your most memorable or enjoyable cricket performance?
The game against Providence where I got a hat-trick resulting in a win for my team

Where do you see yourself five years from now, cricket wise?
With health, strength and God willing, in five years I hope to be still playing cricket on a professional level or being instrumental in ensuring that it remains a big part of the schools’ curriculum.