ENGLAND Cricket vice-captain Heather Knight spent the afternoon inspiring students at KCC, especially one young aspiring cricketer.

Kingsbridge Community College welcomed Heather on Monday, November 2, where she spoke to students in the gym before an extensive question and answer session.

Heather grew up in the area and attended Plymstock School, before being offered a place at University of Cambridge to read natural sciences, which she turned down in order to focus on her cricket. She went on to study biomedical sciences at Cardiff University.

A right-handed batsman and occasional medium pace bowler, Heather started her career at Plymstock Cricket Club at the age of eight before playing at county level for Devon and has played for the Diamonds, the Rubies and the England Academy Women, as well as for the England Women’s team.

In the front row of the gym where Heather was speaking to a group of around 70 students, was a transfixed Olivia Churcher.

Olivia, 12, plays for twelve different cricket teams, including Devon, South Devon and Kingsbridge, and called Heather’s visit ‘inspirational’.

‘When I started watching the England Women’s cricket on the TV, I instantly looked up to Heather and the captain Charlotte Edwards’, said Olivia, ‘I want to play for England.’

Olivia currently plays cricket four or five times a week and admitted that mum is her ‘taxi’, taking her to games all over the country. She recently drove to Wales for Olivia to take part in a match between Wales and Devon – which despite being a county versus a country, Olivia says they won.

When asked if she had anything else in mind after she left school apart from becoming a professional cricketer, Olivia said: ‘No, this is it. It’s going to happen.’ And I don’t doubt that for a second.