Karly Woods, Penrith First Grade Cap Number 89

Penrith Cricket Club | March 25, 2026

What year were you born?

2008

Tell us about your cricket journey. Where did you start junior cricket and the clubs you’ve played for in senior cricket

I started cricket in the COVID lockdown period. A coach had asked my sister and me to give cricket a go because numbers were falling short due to isolation.

If you can share with our readers how you would describe yourself as a cricketer?

During this season, I am a batter.

What do you enjoy most about playing cricket?

I love the environment of cricket and just getting outside and staying fit.

What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket so far?

I think my most memorable moment so far is taking a 5fa against Sydney Uni 2 seasons back. But what made that moment better was my team, who backed me and trusted me to continue bowling more overs to achieve the 5 wickets.

Who’s your favourite all-time cricketer?

I really like Grace Harris. Her humour and energy reminds me of myself.

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Who is the fastest bowler you’ve played against?

I would probably have to say Katie Donovan from the Philippines International Women's Team. She clean bowled me first ball!

Who is the best spinner you’ve played against?

Aimee Ravot is always a challenge for me to face in the nets. I always seem to get some good shots away, but my run to wicket comparison with her bowling is always significant. She gets me out A LOT.

Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?

Hands down it would be Annabel Batty when we played Campbelltown in Second Grade towards the end of season 24/25. I was lucky enough to bat with her for the end of her innings. She ended up scoring 134 off 168 balls and it was definitely an inspirational moment.

Who is the best wicket keeper you’ve had the good fortune to play with?

I have had the opportunity to play cricket with Ella Tilburg since I was quite young, and her keeping was always impressive to me. Lucy Mellis is also a great keeper, and I can't wait to watch her grow in skills as the seasons continue.

Is there a young player in your club you’d like to nominate as a player to watch?

I think Aleena Syed is someone to keep an eye out for. Her batting and bowling have significantly amplified in talent, and I can't wait to continue seeing what she can do for the club.

Who are the two players you’ve come to admire most in your club in terms of skills and competitive spirit?

Definitely, Emma Hughes is a standout to me. Her ability to challenge a batter when bowling is phenomenal. She’s someone I feel would be a challenge to face on the pitch. Another standout is Annabel Batty. Her batting has significantly improved, and it is always an inspiration to watch her be able to control herself in the middle.

What are the two attributes you like to see in a captain and a leader?

I always love to see a captain who supports their players through difficult situations. Watching a captain push a player to become resilient when challenges are faced in cricket is inspiring. I feel like a captain is such a big role model and influence on the team so seeing them back their players is always something I will push to do. I also really like when a captain is cricket smart and can almost read a batter or bowler’s plan perfectly. I understand that is a captain's role, but when you see a captain do this near perfect, it’s a great thing to pick up on and learn off.

Which singer/band would you like to see perform live?

I would have to say Rihanna. Now that would be a good concert.

Favourite location, city or country as a holiday destination?

Queensland is definitely my favourite of all places so far. I’m sure that will change once I begin travelling more overseas.

Who’s been the biggest influence on your career so far?

I would have to say either my dad or Warwick Rippon. Both of them push my abilities and have supported me from day dot of cricket.

Where do you find inspiration that gets you through challenging times?

During challenging times, I tend to find inspiration through girls who have played cricket much longer than I have. I like to ask them questions about how to push through or keep pushing and they always seem to relieve my worries by the end of the conversation, assuring me that all will be OK.

Who are the three people in the world you’d love to meet and talk to?

One person that would be pretty cool to meet would be David Attenborough. I’d definitely love to hear his life story. I’d also love to meet Kevin Hart because he is genuinely one of the funniest actors alive. I’d also love to meet Adam Sandler and speak to him about celebrity life and how he came to his success.

What do you like to do to relax outside cricket?

Definitely catching up with friends when I can is always good and just doing things we all enjoy doing.

If working, what do you do outside of cricket?

I now work full time at the Optimal Pharmacy plus Health Hub in Cowra. I’m currently starting on a course in dispensary to gain further insight into the pharmaceutical industry.

Do you have a favourite quote?

‘There is no elevator to success; you have to take the stairs.’

What are your goals for the next season?

My goal for next season is to improve my ability to read the game, especially while batting. I would like to improve my ability to identify what’s needed at that time to benefit the team the most.

Join the Captains Circle - Scenario 2 - When Silence Becomes a Decision