Who Is Beth Mooney? Why Are People Talking About The Australian Wicket Keeper?

The ICC Women World Cup is taking place in full swing. One has witnessed many emerging stars in the world of cricket and Indian women cricketers creating history. The day before yesterday, India had a match with Australia and the internet cannot stop gushing over how Shafali Verma was caught by Australian cricketer Beth Mooney.

Mooney is a left-hand batter and wicketkeeper from the Australian women's cricket team. Before playing international cricket, she has played for different teams within Australia for the Twenty20 franchises like Perth Scorchers, Queensland Women, Brisbane Heat Women, Queensland Under-15s Women and Yorkshire Women.

In 2009, she made her debut in the sport with the Queensland Fire and made her breakthrough at the domestic level in 2012-13. At the time she has averaged 44, which included four half-centuries.

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Who Is Beth Mooney?

Born on January 14, 1994, Mooney's full name is Bethany Louise Mooney. She was born in Shepparton, Victoria and is 28 years old.

She got her first international opportunity in January 2016. It was because of Alyssa Healy, an Australian cricketer's, injury. She played against India in T20I. After a few weeks of the debut, she got her first half-century in the One-Day International cricket match against New Zealand in Mount Maunganui. Even after Healy healed and returned, Mooney managed to keep her place in the team.

In an interview with Andrew McGlashan, when asked about what is her mindset when it comes to run-chase situations, Mooney said, "It's been more than just calmness at the crease, whether I'm opening in WBBL (Women's Big Bash League) or batting in the middle order in one-day international cricket. No situation really gives me any level of stress when I'm out there because I feel like I can control the game a little bit."

On being asked about her reaction to younger people coming and saying that they want to bat like her, she said that it is "surreal" but she always says "you can do better than wanting to bat like me, surely!" Adding to her answer, she said, "Some girls might want to say they bat like me, and that's amazing. But the thing that really stands out for me is watching dads bring their young boys to female games where there's no male game afterwards."

(Feature Image Credit: Cricket Australia)