Aimee Rees is the current Head of the Women and Girls Elite Pathway at Glamorgan Cricket.
In this episode she talks about her father and watching him play for Swansea Civil Service and then one day being asked to make up the numbers on the field. Her father also took her to watch her first professional cricket games and it was at Neath in 1993 when Glamorgan were hosting the touring Australians that Aimee fell in love with the game. The interview took place shortly after the news of Shane Warne’s death had broken and Aimee recalls getting his autograph and shares her sadness at his passing.
She talks about how she started playing in boys and club cricket and the responses she got from male cricketers and then her first games in girls and women’s cricket.
Aimee’s father was her first coach and she takes a lot of her coaching philosophy from her father. Aimee recalls her playing days and her transformation from a bowler to a batsman. She describes how she developed as a left arm spin bowler and recalls watching video footage of Bishan Bedi.
Aimee was 16 before she played any women’s cricket. She remembers Hannah Lloyd and her father Barry who were involved in the women’s game in Wales. Aimee ended up playing cricket for West of England, Somerset and Bath and she remembers the costs in time and money for her parents in helping her to play. In women’s cricket travelling is part of the deal.
Aimee talks about some of the famous players she played against who have gone on to have careers in cricket broadcasting and administration.
The development of Welsh women’s cricket came at the same time as Aimee’s playing career. She mentions extending her range of shots as a batter and how her technique improved with lots of practice. Her fondest memories of her playing career were the grounds she played at. She remembers batting in a charity game with Sir Richard Hadlee and playing at Eton and Roadean schools.
Aimee talks about the transformation in women’s cricket, how it is played and how it is viewed. From wearing skirts to play to watching elite players playing in The Hundred Aimee is incredibly enthusiastic about the changes that have taken place and her hopes for its future.
Anyone wishing to contact Aimee about her work and the girls and women’s elite pathway can do so at the following email: