North London Cricket Club have landed a major coup with the signing of Scottish international Olivia Rae.

Islington Gazette: Olivia Rae at North London CC's training session (pic Stephen Gardiner)Olivia Rae at North London CC's training session (pic Stephen Gardiner) (Image: Archant)

Capped 76 times, Rae will be sharing her experience and skills at the club during the 2019 season, with the level 3 coach working mostly with the women’s and girls’ squads.

Rae also plans to help the boys and men, as well as play for the club’s men’s league teams when her commitments allow.

A talented right-hand bat and right-arm medium-fast bowler, Rae was just six years old when a coach at her local club suggested she join in.

The first and only girl to play at Durham School in its 500-year history, she played for the county at the age of 11 and went on to captain the women’s first team, as well as be vice-captain of Durham University first XI and earn selection for the MCC Universities.

After a matchwinning 61 in a player of the match display on her debut for Scotland in 2013, Rae became a regular for the Wildcats and coached the under-17 team.

After the 2014-15 winter in New Zealand, playing and coaching at Sydenham, she also represented Canterbury Magicians and is set to play for Middlesex this year.

Having already attended North London’s winter nets, she said: “There is some brilliant talent among the girls, players with great prospects for the future.

“I look forward to working on their cricket with them and foresee great things for the North London’s women team because of its strength in depth.”

Rae plans to launch her own coaching academy based at North London this year and chairman Martin Issiit added: “We have a very strong girls’ and women’s section and are proud that 30 per cent of our current playing membership is female.

“With a considerable number of our girls playing county cricket at their age, they’ve reached the stage in their development that cries out for the sort of close technical coaching and match experience of playing at the highest level that Olivia can offer.”