A stint at the Canberra Raiders, breaking her leg in a women's AFL match and moving back to Sydney helped reignite Charlotte Anneveld's love of cricket just in time for a surprise comeback.
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Former ACT Meteors star Anneveld ended her three-year retirement on Saturday to dust off her pads and play for the Sydney Thunder in the inaugural women's Big Bash League.
The 33-year-old took 1-5 and scored four not out in her first game since November 2012 after the Thunder sent her an SOS as an injury replacement for Sam Bates.
She backed it up with 1-26 and 15 with the bat in her second game as the Thunder held on to top spot on the ladder.
Anneveld ended her 15-year career when cricket started to weigh on her shoulders rather than soaking up the enjoyment.
That's when she walked away and moved into roles off the field before joining the Raiders' back-room staff and playing for Eastlake in the AFL Canberra competition.
"I've been playing a bit of club cricket in Sydney with my old club, Gordon, and I've never enjoyed it as much as I am," Anneveld said.
"I haven't been playing state cricket or been worrying about trying to play at higher levels, so I've been enjoying it more not having that on my mind.
"I just lost the fun factor [when I retired]. I just needed to take a break I think. I've been performing pretty well at club, the Thunder had a couple of players go down and then they offered me a contract. I'm pretty thrilled about it, I guess it's nice to still be wanted."
Anneveld was included in the initial Australian squad for the Twenty20 World Cup in 2012 just months before she walked away from the game to focus on life after cricket.
Anneveld also had to switch from medium-fast bowling to off-spin following a shoulder injury during her Meteors commitments.
The world's best men's players use Twenty20 tournaments as a retirement step, playing in tournaments around the world before they fully quit.
The women's BBL is in its first season in Australia and it is expected a competition in England and the West Indies will start in the coming years.
Anneveld says there are no plans for a worldwide Twenty20 tour, but she could be lured into more games if the enjoyment stays with her.
"This is just a bit of fun. One of the reasons they offered me the contract is that I'm a bit older and experienced," Anneveld said.
"I would always think about stuff when it happens. There's going to be some T20 cricket in England and they're talking about it in the West Indies and India. You never say never.
"It could happen when I'm 40 and I can guarantee I won't be running around then, my body won't hold out. Everyone has to work for a living, I'm loving being back on the park.
"It was almost like my first game, I was pretty nervous. But everything came back when I got the ball – I love the big stage and the pressure."
