Spin to Win: A Chat with Kristen Beams

Australia Women’s Kristen Beams appeals for the wicket of Pakistan Women’s Sana Mir
PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo

Kristen Beams was one of the first female cricketers to take the plunge and move states to pursue her dream of playing at the highest level. She would go on to represent Australia with distinction as a leg spinner across all three formats of the game. 

We will hear how Kristen found a home at the Essendon Maribyrnong Park Ladies Cricket Club experiencing some of her fondest cricket memories including breaking a premiership winning drought at the club.

Kristen reflects on her time playing for Victoria, winning three consecutive T20 titles taking 6-20 including a hat trick as well as breaking into the Australian team.

She shares the significance behind her choice of the number 14 shirt for Australia, her memories of playing a Test Match as well as giving us insights into the 2017 World Cup.

We ask Kristen about captaining the Melbourne Stars, commentating on ABC Grandstand and the Australian team winning the 2020 World Cup in front of over 86000 fans at the MCG.

Needless to say we will also find out which three people Kristen would most like to join her in the nets. Without giving too much away, we can reveal a Tasmanian icon rates a mention.

Please remember to subscribe to the Cricket Library Podcast on your favourite podcast provider and leave a review to help us to continue to share stories like this one from Kristen Beams. 

Career Statistics

CompetitionWTestWODIWT20IWBBL
Matches1301845
Runs scored2634614
Batting average6.806.007.00
100s/50s0/00/00/00/0
Top score26*11*4*14
Balls bowled661,490378891
Wickets0422037
Bowling average22.4516.6024.08
5 wickets in innings0000
10 wickets in match0
Best bowling4/153/114/11
Catches/stumpings0/–10/–4/–13/

Tammy Bartaia – Bollywood Dreams The Cricket Library

Tammy Bartaia is an International actress, TV presenter and author. From the age of seven her dream was to become an actress. She studied screen acting at the National Institute of Dramatic Art ( Nida) in Sydney, Australia. She is well known to cricket fans around the world for her role in the Bollywood film UnIndian starring Australian fast bowler Brett Lee. Tammy sat down with Matt Ellis to share what it was like working with Brett and the parallels between performing on set and cricketers performing on their stage, the cricket stadium. Tammy has a passion for Bollywood and has a deep connection to India through her time working on various projects, including the popular Hindi film Chola, which explores themes such as self discovery and the power of letting go of ego. Tammy always loved to write. It allowed her to use her imagination to create something special. -Even when there is no pen and paper in my hand, I always write in my mind," she says. Tammy is the author of the books: "The Young Woman with an Old Soul" and "A Pink House On Wheels."Tammy always loved to write. It allowed her to use her imagination to create something special. Join us as we open the window into the life of a gifted performer for whom the best is yet to come!
  1. Tammy Bartaia – Bollywood Dreams
  2. Anupam Sharma – When Bollywood Meets the Baggy Green
  3. Elsa Hunter – WBBL Vibes
  4. Dr John Orchard – New Chapters in Cricket & Medicine
  5. Faye Tunnicliffe – Pursuing Excellence

Kristen Beams – Memories of being a room attendant for the Australian team

Kristen Beams had a distinguished career as a leg spinner across all three formats for Australia. Recently on the Cricket Library Podcast, she reflected on her experience of being the room attendant for the Australian team who were playing a Rose Bowl game in her home state of Tasmania.

Please remember to subscribe to the Cricket Library Podcast on your favourite podcast provider and leave a review to help us to continue to share stories like this one from Kristen Beams.