The workability of Anya Shrubsole's opposing personalities

A cricketer's job is by no means a piece of cake; it has high demands. Pressure of expectation, performance and seeking a balance between professional and personal lives can be a tough ask. What can be tougher, is juggling fame and obscurity in a terrain that breeds more split personalities than one would imagine, which transcends onto the playing field. There's the game face that one wears when out in the middle, and then the real them.

Most cricketers over the years have claimed to possess different personalities on and off the field. Anya Shrubsole, England Women's pace sensation at 24, is no different. The self-proclaimed introvert is a hardened aggressor on the field, who is not one to shy away from a battle. Much like her bowling partner Katherine Brunt, who together make England's most successful pace bowling pair, albeit with a difference.

"Everyone who bowls seam has a bit of aggression in them because you're trying to get the batter out," Shrubsole told Cricbuzz. "Not as aggressive as Katherine, though. She's probably a little bit more fiery and in your face. I'm a little bit quieter. It's probably there, but I'd say Katherine probably has a bit more aggression than me," she smiled.

"I'm pretty similar off it; probably get a bit more aggressive out in the middle than I would off the pitch. Off the pitch, I'm very laid-back, quiet and keep much to myself, but I don't think you can do that on the field."

What makes this pair even more intriguing is the fact that in fibre, both are as different as they come, but on the field, they work together as well as organisms to carry out the various processes of England's bowling attack. Disagreements are aplenty, but they find ways to work around it.

"Personality wise, we're completely opposite actually off and on the pitch, but actually, we work really well together," smiled Shrubsole. "We spend a lot of time talking to each other about what we're going to do and bounce ideas off each other. So whilst we are really different, it's a partnership that works really well. And also our bowling is so different; she swings the ball away and I swing it in. We're pole opposites but it seems to work out well."

Cricket for Shrubsole began with watching her father play at the Bath Cricket Club in Somerset. Given that she was quite "big" for her age, seam bowling came naturally to her, something which she pursued without complications.

"I try and keep things as simple as I can. Cricket's a game which is very easy to over-complicate. I know I have a few balls that I can deliver every single time and I try and keep it as simple as that. At the same time, in terms of fast-thinking fast bowlers, I like to think things over. I think about what I'd like to do differently.

"There's no substitute for bowling. You can do as much running work, gym work as you want but there's no substitute for actually getting out there and bowling, because it's so physically demanding. Anyone in international cricket has got to be fit, especially with the schedule getting more and more packed," said Shrubsole.

That cricket is scheduled for most part of the year, which would require training in tandem, leaves players often short on time. Yet, when she can spare some, she spends most of it with her parents, a younger sister and an older brother. In the time away from them, she indulges in TV shows, movies and compositions ranging from musicals to Eminem.

The crunch in time, however, didn't stop a determined Shrubsole from completing a four-year degree in psychology, which kept her occupied for majority of the time. But what really shuts her off from the outside world is the flute - which she occasionally resorts to when she needs to get away.

Getting away in the recent few months hasn't been easy for Shrubsole, though, having been training hard for the ICC Women's World Twenty20 2016 - a tournament which saw her being named Player of the Tournament in the previous edition where she had 13 wickets.

Although she had just seven this time around and England's unbeaten run came to an end in the semifinal after a five-run loss to Australia in Delhi, what was palpable was the stark contrast in the reception of women's cricket, validated with spectators turning up in large numbers - a trend that seen upheaval in the last few years.

"In England, we're now professional, which is a huge shift in the eight years that I've been playing," said a visibly pleased Shrubsole. "We even saw in the recent Ashes series the crowds we're getting have been sold out ones. So to get that kind of support is brilliant. Global tournaments, the increase in prize money and the support that all the countries are getting around the world is increasing massively."

The Women's Big Bash League that was played alongside the men's late last year was in some sense the trendsetter when it came to attracting crowds, paving the scope for T20 leagues across the world.

"The WBBL was brilliant. I wasn't a part of it but all our girls who were out there playing said it was a really enjoyable tournament, the crowds were brilliant and I think it set the way for Twenty20 competitions around the world. We've got our own Women's Super League coming in this summer which is a new competition.

"It's going to be a higher quality tournament, obviously a lot less teams, you have to got to be the best against the best and also with the number of overseas players. Now obviously we have just one per team, but then there will be a number of overseas players per team which will strengthen the competition massively. I think every team will be strong and every game you play will be very competitive with everyone getting used to playing in pressure games," she added.

'The Hoof' - as she is affectionately called by her teammates because of her kicking up her heels when she runs - is much like heroes, Michael Holding and Malcolm Marshall who she grew up watching videos of, taking up the mantle of England's pace unit along with Brunt. Although England had a disappointing end to their WWT20 campaign this season, the talent that Shrubsole brings to the side, which has her with 88 wickets across formats, will hold England in good stead for years to come. After all, she has chosen the right footsteps to follow.

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