All-rounder Janelle Phillips makes WA country cricket squad

A wife and mum, musician, footballer, softballer and soccer player has been selected for WA’s top country women’s cricket side.

Janelle Phillips says her life is “pretty hectic”, but admits she wouldn’t have it any other way.

Phillips, 29, will soon head to Shepparton in Victoria’s Goulburn Valley to contest the 2019 Australian Country Cricket Championships.

She represented her State in this year’s titles in Geraldton, but this is her first interstate trip.

Phillips is married to Josh, a firefighter, and has daughters Addison, six, and Thea, three.

The muso couple play in gigs as Me & the Missus and are members of Rollercoast, the reigning Battle of the Bands winner.

She plays football for the all-conquering Railways — winners of the inaugural GNFWL competition — softball for Postal Institute (PI’s), soccer for Chapman Athletic and cricket in Wanderers men’s B-grade side.

Phillips took 5-24 in her debut match last season and is rated as a very good fielder, having taken eight catches.

She says she is more confident with the ball in hand, but has been told by coach Angele Gray she will be used as an all-rounder.

“Angele has said I will bowl a bit and bat in the middle order,” Phillips said.

“I’m working on my batting and have to undo some of my softball techniques, as they are very different in the two sports.”

Asked her favourite sport, Phillips thought long.

“A hard question to answer and I wouldn’t like to choose,” she said.

“It would be cricket for longevity of the body.

“But footy’s the flavour of the month.

“I have a hectic lifestyle and when my head hits the pillow I’m asleep.

“But you know what, I work best like that.”

Gray said she focused on picking players from regional teams, rather than those playing in Perth.

“I wanted to find the talent in regional WA and then help boost the development of those players,” she said.

Another local and a regular team member in recent seasons, Sarah Prickett, is the assistant coach of the team.