.jpg) Vakarewa bowling forSydney Thunder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Belinda Waimakare Vakarewa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1998-01-22)22 January 1998 (age 27) Griffith, New South Wales, Australia[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-armfast medium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | Bowler | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National side |
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| Only ODI (cap 135) | 29 June 2017 v Sri Lanka | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015/16–2018/19 | Sydney Thunder | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016/17–2018/19 | New South Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019/20–2021/22 | Hobart Hurricanes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019/20–2021/22 | Tasmania | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022/23 | Sydney Thunder | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source:ESPNcricinfo,21 August 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Belinda Waimakare Vakarewa[2] (born 22 January 1998) is an Australiancricketer fromGriffith, New South Wales. She plays as afast bowler. Vakarewa has made one international appearance for thenational women's team.
Vakarewa attended Eagle Vale High School.[3][4] She played local cricket for several clubs in western Sydney, includingCampbelltown-Camden ingrade cricket as well as Campbelltown City and Magpies Cricket Club at junior level.[5][6] Her introduction to the sport occurred at the age of ten after participating in a "come and try" day with her brother while in primary school.[7] Vakarewa is from "a very traditional Fijian family"[8] and played her father's choice of sport,rugby, throughout her childhood.[9][10]
Vakarewa joined theSydney Thunder ahead of its inaugural season and went on to play in theWBBL|01 championship final, which the team won by three wickets.[11] She was also added toNew South Wales' squad during the2015–16 WNCL season.[12]
In May 2019, Vakarewa signed with theTasmanian Tigers andHobart Hurricanes.[13][14][15] She enjoyed a breakoutWBBL|05 campaign, taking 20 wickets (ranked third in the league) at anaverage of 15.80.[16] Her outstanding season was recognised with selection in the Team of the Tournament as well as earning the Hurricanes' Most Valuable Player award.[17][18]
Vakarewa re-signed with the Hurricanes in July 2020, turning down offers from several other teams.[19]
In May 2017, Vakarewa was named in the 15-playerAustralian squad for the2017 Women's Cricket World Cup[20] and made herWomen's One Day International (WODI) debut during the tournament againstSri Lanka on 29 June.[21][22] She toured India with the Australian team in March 2018 but spent the series stricken by food poisoning and did not play a match.[7]
In April 2019,Cricket Australia awarded Vakarewa with a contract for the National Performance Squad ahead of the 2019–20 season.[23][24] She toured the United Kingdom in June and July 2019 as a member of the Australia A squad that played a series oflimited overs andred ball matches against theEngland and England Academy teams.[25][26]
Vakarewa was included in the Australia A squad that hosted a series of threeODIs and threeT20Is against India A in December 2019.[27] Despite a strong display of recent form, she missed out on selection for Australia's2020 ICC T20 World Cup squad. National team selectorShawn Flegler claimed the decision "illustrates the depth of Australian cricket" and that she was one of several players who "could come into the side at any stage and play a role".[28] Vakarewa was then selected to play for the Governor General's XI in an exhibition match againstIndia atDrummoyne Oval on 28 January 2020.[29]
