Cricket: Lara Graham makes her Tamworth first grade men's debut with South Tamworth

On Saturday she followed in the former Australian wicket-keeper's footsteps in making her Tamworth men's first grade debut in South Tamworth's final round clash with Bective-East.

Coleman played first grade back in the 90s, and was the last female to achieve the feat until Jess Davidson debuted for Bective East back in 2018.

Graham had originally been approached about playing the previous week but was unavailable.

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She hadn't really thought much more about it until until she received a message from Souths secretary Anita Barbara, as she was going out for coffee with her mum and sister on Saturday morning, asking if she would be interested in a game.

"I got the option of fourth grade or first grade," she said.

"I thought I might not get the chance to play first grade again so I took it."

It's something the teenage allrounder said she thought she'd always love to have the opportunity to do, but never really expected to happen.

"You don't really think you'll play senior men's first grade cricket," she said.

"It's just really exciting to be a girl and go out there."

Coming after Tara Craig also made her first grade debut for Old Boys earlier this season, for Graham it was about more than just a personal milestone. Like Coleman and Erin Osborne were inspirations for her, the young girls now can see what she, Davidson and Craig are doing, and be inspired and empowered to dream.

"Being from the region I thought I really want to do what they do," she said.

She was understandably "a little bit nervous before the game".

"Coming up against men sometimes can be intimidating," she said.

But she received great support and encouragement from her Souths teammates and once she got out there the nerves went away - until it came time to bat anyway.

But she proved more than up to the task and finished unbeaten on 11 to be Souths' fourth top-scorer.

"It was just really fun, just really enjoyed it," Graham said.

"They're a great bunch of fellas in first grade."

She knew a lot of them from training, usually going along to have a bit of bowl.

"I just enjoy playing with them and that's what made me say yes, you have such supportive players, particularly towards women," she said.

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