Sophie Day: Cricket's artist who shone at the Women's Big Bash League

Sophie Day took 27 wickets at an average of 12.48 for Melbourne Stars in the 2023 edition of the Women's Big Bash League

Many cricket lovers see the sport as one of art's truest forms.

That is true for Melbourne Stars spin bowler Sophie Day perhaps more than it is for almost anyone else.

By night, Day, 25, has starred with the ball in hand, but by trade she is used to having a paintbrush in hand as a professional artist.

"It doesn't really get much better," said Day. "I've been able to work as a practising artist, as well as be a professional cricketer."

Day's breakthrough in cricket did not come until 2019, when she spent an English summer with Berkshire in the hope of winning a first contract with Victoria, pairing that spell with playing for Henley Cricket Club.

While there, she played as much as possible. By chance, she found herself in the same team as England captain Heather Knight, 2017 World Cup winner Anya Shrubsole, and current England star Lauren Bell.

"I really wanted a Victoria contract and I wanted to be in and around it. I just didn't have that game experience and it was a comment that was made to me. I was late to the game. So I thought, how am I going to do this when our season is finished? How am I going to play more games?" Day said.

"I went over there and I ended up in the same team as the England captain; it doesn't get much better than that.

"I was very nervous, but I also had to take a bit of responsibility and work things out for myself. I think I grew up a fair bit, maybe personally but also as a cricketer.

"Berkshire were incredible, they gave me an opportunity to come over and I played 50+ games. I was very grateful because I was very new to the sport and I don't think many would've given that opportunity."

It was the start of Day's journey to going professional. A few months after leaving England, she found herself given the chance to be a net bowler at the 2020 T20 World Cup, bowling at her beloved Junction Oval to the stars of India and New Zealand, as well as eventual winners Australia.

Back then, Day would get the tram to Junction Oval unaware that months later, it would become her professional home for Victoria and Melbourne Stars.

"It was pretty crazy," explained Day. "Little opportunities like that which you don't think will eventuate into anything but they do.

"I ran drinks for Victoria for a fair few games and wasn't on contract then, I just wanted to soak it in. The girls were fantastic, letting me be around the squad. I was probably that annoying person asking too many questions, but it's a real credit to them, because they've absolutely helped me get to where I am today."

Sophie Day plays for Melbourne Stars and Victoria, but dreams of playing for Australia and other teams around the world

From there, Day has gone from strength to strength and in October 2020, she made her Stars debut just after turning 22 in the Melbourne derby against the Renegades.

In this year's Women's Big Bash League, Day's fourth WBBL campaign, she was the leading wicket-taker, taking 27 wickets at an average of 12.48 in a Stars side featuring Australia internationals Meg Lanning and Annabel Sutherland, as well English trio Sophia Dunkley, Alice Capsey and Maia Bouchier.

Day's cricket career is continuing to grow, but that has not stopped her passion to work as an artist.

Due to her late start in cricket, Day was able to complete her degree in Fine Arts at the University of Melbourne and in the Australian winter, she is able to commit more time to her artwork.

Both cricket and art have always been passions of Day's and she is grateful cricket's schedule allows for her to continue her artwork.

"I've always painted. I guess I came late into cricket itself but I've always found sport and art as a bit of an outlet," said Day.

"I'm really lucky that the schedule is a bit up and down but can also be quite flexible. I do a lot of drawings and sketches during the season when we're travelling or in hotels.

"In the winter, I tend to sit down and paint and it's a bit of an odd process, but I try to get all of my ideas during the season and then try and produce the work during the winter."

Sophie Day's piece '8th of March,' a painting of Melbourne Cricket Ground following the T20 Cricket World Cup final between Australia and India

Day bases her artwork on her cricket career and her passion for the sport.

She sees plenty of similarities between her two careers and knows that she is leaving herself open to criticism with how she performs on the pitch and on a canvas.

"In cricket you are asked to perform in front of people and a lot of the time, you fail in front of people," Day explained.

"The same with art, you put your thoughts onto a canvas and people make judgement on that. In the sense of critique of the two industries, it's very high, quite similar and I feel like you can still get a lot of pressure from both, but that's something I try to embrace.

"Not everyone is going to love it all but, as an artist, I try to strive for perfection. I think that's the same with cricket, you envision how you want something to look like and how you want to play. I think they're quite similar in that way."

Day does not have to look too far from home for inspiration as a double professional.

While her mother is fond of the arts, her father is a sign writer, as well as playing cricket on the side. That leads to competition between father and daughter on both fronts.

"I'm very competitive with my dad, I'll try and compete with him with drawing, and at the nets," said Day.

"We've got to film our net sessions now to make sure that we third umpire review, we get mum to do it. He reckons he's never out, which he is. We go full high-tech. We've even brought it home and put it on the big screen because we still didn't agree. It's good fun.

"My parents always pushed me to do what I love and I'm really grateful for that because I've ended up with two cool careers."

Sophie Day next to some of her artwork at a recent exhibition

While Day can be thankful for how supportive her family have been, regularly attending her cricket matches and art exhibitions alike, she has found equal levels of support from her cricket teammates and Cricket Victoria.

Victoria even hosted Day's first art exhibition in their indoor centre at Junction Oval, called the 'Art of Cricket,' with many of Day's team-mates attending.

"I had a few hundred people plus arrive on the opening night," said Day. "That support from Cricket Victoria has been crazy but it's something that I'm absolutely loving at the moment.

"I've done a few paintings for some team-mates. I did a World Cup painting for Meg (Lanning), Pez (Ellyse Perry) has got one of my artworks and I've done a few different things with the girls with their stats and their wagon wheels.

"I like to do a few drawings of the girls as well, I really enjoy it. The girls have been so good, they are so supportive of my career in the arts.

"The whole cricket crew come to my exhibitions, which is such an interesting mix when you've got cricketers and the art industry together. It's very different but it's pretty cool to see the two worlds collide."

With some of Australia's top players knowing what Day can do with a cricket ball in hand, as well as with a paintbrush, she hopes to one day break into Australia's national side, with her recent WBBL form only likely to help her case.

"I am just trying to look for different opportunities where I can play," said Day.

"Whether or not that is international cricket, the fixture list is getting massive in the women's game which is really exciting, so that will open up opportunities for more people but also, the tournaments around the world are so exciting.

"We've got the Big Bash here in Australia, but also I watch a lot of The Hundred and it's an exciting competition. I'd love to be involved in it."