And it’s not just the long, blonde ponytail that could have people linking the Bendigo teen to superstar Ellyse Perry, who has played international soccer and cricket for Australia.

Tayla, too, is an outstanding talent on the soccer field and cricket pitch and has represented Victoria in both sports at national junior carnivals.

Last year, she was a member of the Vic Spirit team that was runner-up at Cricket Australia’s under-15 female championship in Sydney.

She has previously pulled on state uniforms for national soccer competitions at under-14 and under-13 level. 

“The main challenge moving forward will be juggling soccer and cricket and how that will work for her,” says state cricket coach John Hayes.

“She’s a really good kid and she has a great family behind her. I would certainly encourage her to pursue both sports for as long as she can and don’t choose one over the other too early.

“Ellyse Perry is still managing to do both, so it would be great if Tayla was able to as well.”

No doubt Tayla would be embarrassed to hear her name in the same sentence as Perry, who has defied critics by combining her commitments to the Matildas soccer team and the Southern Stars cricket squad, playing in World Cups in both disciplines.

The Catholic College Bendigo year 10 student is very modest and doesn’t like to talk much about herself or her achievements.

But her sporting CV speaks for itself.   

Tayla began playing soccer at six, in a team coached by her uncle. She is now one of the leading local strikers, booting 24 goals for Strathdale’s title-winning women’s team in 2013.

She finished the season runner-up in the Loris Browning Medal count for the Bendigo Amateur Soccer League’s best player, was named most outstanding female under 21, and made the women’s team of the year.

She has starred for Loddon Mallee Lightning in summers past and continues to train during the off season with Nick Mammone under the Bendigo Bank Academy of Sport program.

In contrast, Tayla is only just embarking on her cricket career.

This is her first season of club matches, playing with younger brother James in Strathdale Maristians’ under-15A team under the experienced David Bakes.

She has made quite an impression.    
Tayla - who has always loved a hit of backyard cricket - was spotted by local junior coach Barry Findlay bowling right-arm fast balls at James in the nets before training last season.

Findlay recognised her talent and suggested she try out for the Northern Rivers female under-14 squad, giving her ongoing tips after she was selected in the team.

Her debut came at the state championship carnival, where she averaged 48 with the bat, 13.67 with the ball and finished with best bowling figures of 3/10.

“I played all right,” is all she says about her performance.

But it was more than enough for her to be asked to play for Plenty Valley in a Victorian Women’s Cricket Association premier firsts match in Bendigo last January, when Tayla held her own against the senior girls and returned 2/16 from four overs.

“I was a little bit nervous before I started, but after I had a few bowls I was okay,” she says of the match, in which Aussie batsman Jessica Cameron was on her team.

Since then, she has taken the field several more times for Plenty Valley and been invited to join Cricket Victoria’s high-performance academy.

She was one of 13 academy members selected in the Victorian team for the national championships in November-December.

Her side went through the preliminary rounds undefeated before being overcome by defending champions New South Wales in the title decider.

Tayla’s trip to Sydney was fully funded by Cricket Victoria, which covered the cost of her travel, accommodation, meals and kit, right down to her match-day footwear.

Coach Hayes says while Tayla’s cricket talent is still raw, there are exciting signs.

“She is tall and athletic and has the ability to get the ball through at speed,” he says.

“She’s also a very good batter and a great fielder and we picked her on her overall game.”

Hayes says the high- performance program helps prepare up-and-coming juniors for the rigours of elite cricket.

“The sooner girls get into our pathway structure, the better, as they learn about a whole range of things. 

“For example, they have regular ice baths as part of their recovery after training.

“Tayla has also got workloads she has to tick off, in terms of how many balls she has to bowl on which days, whether she does that on her own or with her brother.”

Parents Paul and Loretta travelled to Sydney to watch their daughter take part in the national cricket carnival and were impressed with the way the cricket program operated.

“They have a lot of country kids in the team... so they are mindful of their needs and the travel demands put on country families,” says Loretta.

Locally, Tayla was again in the Northern Rivers female squad this summer and is the only girl in the under-15 Bendigo junior representative team.

She stepped up an age group to play in the under-18 female state championships in December, scoring 78 runs at an average of 19.5, returning best bowling figures of 2/14 and being involved in two run outs during her four matches for Northern Rivers.

She was in action again for the region’s under-16 team at the state titles in mid-January.

While younger sister Ellie enjoys soccer and basketball and is in the Bendigo Braves under-12A squad, brother James is a confirmed cricket fan who has made the under-13 Bendigo and under-14 Northern Rivers rep teams.

He is always up for a hit-out at home with Tayla and the pair regularly rope their dad in to bowl at them.

At this time of year, Tayla would usually have been pulling on her football boots for Loddon Mallee Lightning and playing in a junior summer soccer competition, but plans for a new National Premier League did not eventuate in time, leaving a void in her sporting calendar. 

Soccer’s loss has been cricket’s gain, with the all-rounder having time to devote to her new past-time.

Pressed on which she enjoys more, Tayla admits the fast-running action of the round-ball game still puts it on top... at least for now.