By David Nagel
STEPHANIE Phillips may have re-written the record books on Saturday, but it’s the story behind her story that helps dry the ink on the most remarkable chapter of her career.
The 28-year-old from Narre Warren claimed a hat-trick on her way to the unbelievable figures of 8/9 off 5.2 overs in Carlisle Park’s victory over Cranbourne Meadows in the WGCA One-Day Competition.
Her figures set a club and competition record, her hat-trick the second of her career after claiming the rarest of cricketing milestones all the way back in the Under 13s.
Stephanie Phillips loves cricket, she has since the age of seven, and it’s fortunate too, because without that passion she wouldn’t have been on Don Jackson Reserve in the first place.
A talented junior, she was making her way through the ranks with Buckley Ridges when a freak accident changed her life forever.
Steph was at school when it happened.
“Two lockers fell over and I got caught between them and one of them sliced open the back of my leg from the knee all the way down to the heel,” she said.
“I had 200 stitches in the back of my leg and the doctors told me I would never play cricket again. It was really disappointing because I was in the process of trying out for the state.”
Despite her setback, Steph would not be denied, a combination of intense physio and a fierce determination to prove people wrong would become the driving forces behind her journey back to the crease.
After four years away from the game, and two years of indoor cricket, she joined her brothers Ben and James at Carlisle Park last season.
But her story – and the hurdles – don’t end there.
“I was diagnosed with epilepsy when I was 20 and last year I collapsed on the field,” she said.
“I just need to look after myself and keep hydrated, that’s the most important thing. When you’re playing cricket dealing with the heat in the middle of summer is the hardest part. It’s a constant battle with the epilepsy and the injury. I get pain in my knee, and my hip aches, but I love the game and would do anything to be out there playing. I nearly had it taken away so I appreciate every minute in the middle.”
Steph gets to appreciate those minutes with her family and friends, with Ben and James joined in the team by dad Kevin, Steph’s partner Ricardo Gonsalvez and Mat Ruprecht, the partner of Steph’s sister Jennifer.
Kevin has a broken finger so missed his daughter’s heroics.
“Dad’s really annoyed that he wasn’t out there with me but it was still great to do it in front of family and friends,” Steph said.
“My Mum (Nicola) was there, my sister (Jennifer) was scoring and there were a couple of ladies in the crowd who are super important to me. I’ve played indoor and outdoor cricket all my life with Sandy Davies and Margie Fuller and they’ve been huge mentors for me. That was nearly the best memory of the day, the way people were reacting as the day wore on.”
Steph’s hat-trick was also a family affair, with younger brother James catching the first wicket, the second cleaned bowled, before older brother Ben held on to a hot chance – close in on the leg side – to complete a milestone that had been a long-time coming.
“It was the third hat-trick I was on for the day, and it was great to have both of my brothers involved,” Steph said. “They’ve played a big part in my cricket – I had to learn how to throw before I could walk.”
