From Swansea to Sydney - the cricketer smashing it out of the park

Libby Thomas has also just graduated with a forensic psychology degree from the University of Worcester

Swansea cricketer Libby Thomas is just 21, but her ferocious batting and fearless wicketkeeping are already attracting global attention.

The right-handed Glamorgan keeper and opener has just touched down in Australia ahead of a season's contract to play for Sydney women's champions St George Sutherland, nicknamed the Slayers.

She's also just graduated with a forensic psychology degree from the University of Worcester.

Her achievements are all the more remarkable as, for the past three years, her family have also been coming to terms with the four life-changing strokes suffered by her father Michael.

Libby has already represented Shrewsbury School, University of Worcester, Glamorgan, Wales and an England under 21s XI

"You could say that we've got each other through it," she said.

"The successes I've had in cricket and at uni I think have helped him to recover to a certain extent, but also the pride and enjoyment he gets from my matches have been a real motivation for me to get my head down and reach my true potential.

"When he was unconscious in hospital, I'd sit by his bed and read out the scorecards to him, just hoping that somehow he could hear.

"Now he's back home in an adapted house, we try to livestream all my matches for him, and you can guarantee that five minutes after I come off the field he'll be on the phone with a tonne of questions about how it went."

Libby scored her first half-century for Morriston Cricket Club aged 12

Libby described how Michael was sobbing "tears of pride" as he waved her off to the airport.

She said: "I first got into cricket when I was about 10, because my older brother was playing.

"That brought out my competitive streak, and I knew I could be better than him, but before long it was just me and dad training.

"We used to go to the nets, even if it was raining, snowing, hailing.

"We've gone out under floodlights before now. Just going out even if we didn't always want to.

"That's how we would spend our time together... almost every day before this happened really."

Before settling on cricket, Libby turned her hand to karate, football, table tennis, and – most usefully for her cricketing career – gymnastics.

Libby has been representing Wales since she was 12

"Believe it or not, I actually started out as quite a cautious batter," she said.

"Though for most of my life I've played men's cricket, where they mainly seemed to be trying to take off my head with bouncers.

"So being nimble and quick on my feet to pull and hook became important if I didn't want to be constantly wearing it on my grill."

Libby learnt to face short-pitched deliveries with aplomb

Libby came to international prominence when, representing an England XI at the inaugural Women's T10 European Championships, she blasted 63 against Spain at a strike-rate of 136.

Glamorgan currently play in Tier 2 of the new ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) female structure, but after her stint in Australia, Libby faces a nervous wait to learn if she's secured a place in a Tier 1 county side, via the Central Sparks Academy - the ECB's women's elite player pathway to franchise cricket and the England team.

Libby, standing up to the wicket, completes a stumping for Glamorgan Women last season

"Fingers crossed, but if I can get a Tier 1 spot then it changes everything," she said.

"Tier 1 is where you start getting paid, and can focus full-time on being a professional, including all the elite coaching that comes with.

"I've been lucky so far, but even at Tier 2 it's a struggle for us - even after all the support I've received, I've still had to set up a GoFundMe page just to get over here.

"With the time difference between India and Australia, I haven't been able to see much of the Women's World Cup, but watching the highlights with England doing so well I would love to be at the next one."

Though like all class cricketers, Libby has a Plan B.

Libby's performances at the T10 European Championships have seen her come to international attention

"I don't even want to think about that possibility at the moment, but if I can't become a professional cricketer, then the plan is to join the police and become a detective.

"I'm a proper 'Morriston Monkey', growing up there and playing for their club, so you could say I've had the ideal background for either career."