After an impressive WBBL season, it wasn't all bells and whistles when Courtney Webb found out she'd won Melbourne Renegades' player of the season award.
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"I just had a phone call from Dave Lever who's the general manager of the Renegades and he let me know a couple of days ago that it would be announced shortly," she said.
"I haven't seen any of the girls or anything since the hub, so it was pretty different to normal but I'm sure there'll be an awards night at the end of the season or something like that where I'll be able to see everyone again.
"I knew I was nominated but I didn't think that the members would've voted for me with the likes of Soph Molineux and Lizelle Lee nominated."
But Webb's breakout season of 246 runs at 30.75 was enough to be voted the side's best, following in the footsteps of Molly Strano, Amy Satterthwaite, Molineux and Jess Duffin, who missed WBBL06 due to pregnancy.
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Her absence allowed Webb to step up the order, something the 20-year-old former AFLW player said contributed to her success.
"I think I batted five most games, where she sort of played that role last year and did an amazing job of bringing the game home for us.
"Having that opportunity and having a bit of freedom I was given by the coaches, we didn't have the best start to the tournament so we had a team meeting a few games in and they really gave me a licence to swing freely and play my natural game.
"So it's probably a combination of being more free in my mindset and having a clearer role to play and the opportunity that came with it [that helped my success]."
Despite making the highlight reel with one of the catches of the season, scoring her first WBBL half-century and taking her maiden wicket - Webb picked the team's victory over Melbourne Stars as her favourite moment of 2020's campaign.
"We were really struggling at that stage and to take it to a super over and for Lizelle Lee to go crazy and hit some bombs ... to get a win against the cross-town rivals, we always like to bring our A-game against a team like that."
Webb's focus now shifts to the WNCL, as she prepares to make her South Australian debut having signed a two-season deal last year.
With the one-day tournament being rescheduled on multiple occasions, she is ready to hit the ground running after several practice games.
"There's a pretty good feel around the group, we are pretty well injury free, there's not too many niggles going around the group so we are pretty excited," she said.
"It feels like a long time coming, our first games were scheduled in September before the Big Bash, so we were supposed to play a few months ago now.
"For it to get pushed back a couple of times, we are just eager to get into it after a pretty long pre-season."
Despite returning to Tasmanian shores for Christmas and the New Year's period and still referring to the state as home, Webb is adamant her cricketing future sits in South Australia.
"SA have given me a really good opportunity, which is what I'm after at this point in my career," she said.
"I just need to get a few good scores on the board and try and push my case for some Aus A stuff to take my game to the next level."
Josh Partridge
As a sports-mad fan who loves to remain challenged, sports journalism always seemed the path for me and it's allowed me to do things I never thought possible. A keen racquet sports player, I'm experienced in that field, allowing me to do my job at a strong standard.
As a sports-mad fan who loves to remain challenged, sports journalism always seemed the path for me and it's allowed me to do things I never thought possible. A keen racquet sports player, I'm experienced in that field, allowing me to do my job at a strong standard.
