INTERVIEW: Katie Mack raring to go ahead of second spell with Lancashire Women
Overseas batting star Katie Mack is hoping she can carry an impressive run of late-season form in Australia into the early stages of this summer with Lancashire as she aims to help the county make a flying start to their silverware bid.
Mack is back, Return of the Mack, take your pick.
Securing the Australia A run-getter for a second season at Emirates Old Trafford is an exciting move from the county’s hierarchy, just as it is for them to sign Mack’s good mate and compatriot Alana King for a spell starting next month.
More of that in a while, but first to Mack, who played both 50-over and T20 regional cricket with Lancashire Thunder in 2024, impressing greatly with 357 runs in 13 matches, including a best of 100.
Mack, 31, landed in Manchester at the weekend having finished the Australian domestic season with the Australian Capital Territory side, who she captains.
She was in the top 10 leading run-scorers in 50-over WNCL competition with 403 runs from 12 matches, including scores of 52 and 85 in six appearances through February.
Ahead of next Wednesday’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup opener against The Blaze at Trent Bridge, Mack said: “I probably wasn't ready for my season to end, so it's kind of nice to get a bunch of games here. I think it's 6-8 weeks, and there's two games a week almost.
“Hopefully I can help get us off to a good start and build into the Vitality Blast.”
Mack spoke as a number of Lancashire players undertook pre-season media duties yesterday, and it was clear there’s definite excitement about her return - even if the jet-lag hadn’t quite worn off and the weather was a bit chilly for her liking.
“I enjoyed my time here last year, so for them to want me back for a little stint at the start has been really nice,” she continued.
“I was keen to come back.
“I knew they were sort of looking at other internationals for their T20 stuff. To have Alana King coming - and I'm a really good friend of Alana’s, and she's great - I'd like to think that they got the two best picks they could!”
Despite impressing at number three in 50-over cricket during the first half of last year, averaging 40, Mack believes there is definite room for improvement.
“I would say it was probably moderate or average,” she reflected when asked to assess her contributions in 2024.
“I think, for me personally, I had a couple of good scores, but I'd probably like to be slightly more consistent.
“But I learnt a lot, and I'm sort of hoping learning how to play in England is going to really help me this year to get that consistency.
“My strongest shot at home is a big cover drive, and you sort of have to put that away a little bit here with a slow wicket.
“So, it’s about probably just being a little bit more patient and waiting for the right ball to hit.
“I don't quite have the pace on the wickets that I'm used to.
“That's just a learning, and it's been quite nice to play in different conditions and build on my game that way. We don't get all the same pitches at home, and I play a lot of club cricket, and you get some very spicy pitches there.
“Cricket in general is all about experience and learning, and I'd like to think it's just helping me become a better player.
“Team wise, I think we were close in a lot of games but didn't quite get over the line. There were probably a few we felt should have won.
"The girls have had some really good trial games and are playing really strongly, so I think that will change this season too.”
Mack will be part of an exciting batting line-up including the likes of Emma Lamb, Seren Smale, new signing Eve Jones and Fi Morris during the first half of this summer.
At the start of last summer, Mack and Morris shared a superb 191 partnership for the third wicket in a 50-over win against Sunrisers at Emirates Old Trafford. Mack scored 100 off 110 balls in that game and Morris 89.
Mack is yet to play senior international cricket for Australia, though she has represented their A side on 15 occasions. But a good season in Red Rose colours could certainly aid her cause in catching the eye of the national selectors.
She added: “What do they say? ‘Runs are your currency’.
“Look, the next level is always an ambition. But, to be honest, I'm just going to enjoy being here, and hopefully get as many wins as possible. And hopefully that means I score lots of runs.”