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Naomi James –
Ladies’ leg spinner!
When Naomi James picked up a cricket ball in the family’s back garden in Johnston and was ordered to bowl to brothers Nathan and Liam they were astonished to find that she was a natural leg-spinner who could give the ball a real turn.
Since then she has progressed to being a player with Neyland Ladies and has represented Wales at under 11, 13, 15 and 17 levels, playing at smashing venues like Kings College in Taunton, when she has been on tour with them. She has also represented Wales at Hove, the home of Sussex CCC and was amazed at the size of the changing rooms and the lovely pitch they played on.
Let’s dance!
But Naomi has more than one string to her bow because she is also a more than useful footballer and is a keen exponent of dance, taking her ballet to Grade Six after first trying to balance on her tip-toes when she was six, and Modern Jazz Dancing, where she has passed her Elementary Grade and has been working hard at the Intermediate Level, interpreting the music with set routines to her dances. Ask Naomi about her dance and she would say that it is physically demanding and certainly helps to keep her fit for her playing of sport!
That she should be involved in sport was perhaps inevitable because dad Steve was one of the best goalkeepers in Pembrokeshire as he played for Johnston, and captained Johnston Cricket team as an all-rounder for a number of years. He still plays today in both sports, although his football is usually confined to the Pembrokeshire Over 45s team. Then there are Nathan and Liam, both playing for Johnston, whilst mum Grazi is a great supporter of the game and as well as doing teas can score for the cricket team.
Football mad family
Naomi had little choice but to join in the garden football kick-arounds when she was small and soon found herself good enough to play in the boys’ team, where she played in midfield. At 13 she was prevented from continuing for the lads because of the rules and so she joined Clarbeston Road ladies team and was looked after by Huw Bevan and Co as she played as a striker and grabbed a few goals.
Leg-spin hat-trick
Back on the cricket front, there were the same practice sessions at home and no-one showed her how to bowl leg-spin – it was the only way she could do it. She still maintains the boys at Johnston juniors were sexist because they rarely gave her a chance to bowl but that has changed since she joined Neyland Ladies because she has been part of a highly successful side which has won the league title five times and the cup on three occasions. Her latest figures were 3 for 5 in a match and she had a hat-trick in the under 15s, where she was presented with the match ball as a memento.
Her figures earned her Welsh recognition throughout the different age categories where she was well coached by the likes of Sarah Ginn, Ted Tupper and Rob Green, who has run the senior squad.
Family support
Naomi is quick to praise all those who have helped her, especially her parents and it is very evident that she derives a great deal of pleasure out of her sport, whilst not taking it too seriously so that is stays fun. Naomi James demonstrates all that is best in ladies sport in our county and long may she continue to be happily involved in all that she does!
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