After years of toiling, all-rounder Tahlia's time starts now as Australia vice-captain

WHEN Belinda Robinson, former Australian player, handed Tahlia McGrath her Baggy Green cap, no. 171, on a bright afternoon in November 2017 at the picturesque North Sydney Oval, the South Australian nodded politely with her eyes fixated on a bag that carried one of the most coveted caps in cricket.

- KALYANI MANGALE

Having made her international debut a year ago against South Africa, the cap presentation was not new for McGrath, but the cap certainly was. In that Test, a pink ball one, McGrath played her role with three wickets and a partnership of 100 runs with her hero, Ellyse Perry.

A lot has changed for McGrath since — injuries, a stint in an overseas league like the Women’s Cricket Super League in England, rebuilding years with South Australia Scorpions and Adelaide Strikers in domestic cricket, return to the Australian squad and eventually playing XIs, the long-awaited debut in T20Is, two World Cup wins, two Women’s Big Bash League titles and finally the leadership role. Of those who have followed McGrath’s career, only a few would have projected her to take over the leadership role of one of the most successful cricket teams.