THE disappointment of missing out on national selection in the women's cricket team earlier this year has propelled Timaima Bulatalei desire to don the national jersey.
The 22-year-old attended trials for the 2012 ICC East Asia Pacific Women's Championship that was held in Vanuatu in May.
Yesterday, she was spotted playing cricket with men at Albert Park and said she would do anything to be in the national side next year.
Cricket Fiji organised an impromptu Twenty20 match for the players in the Elite Player League. Development officer Seci Sekinini said since no EPL game would be played today, they wanted to have a game to keep the competitive spirit alive in the boys.
The players are preparing for the EPL final next weekend.
"This is to keep the boys active and keep them alert for their finals next week," Sekinini said.
"And joining them on the field is Timaima, she is a young and upcoming player and since there is no womens competition at the moment, playing with the boys gives her confidence and experience," he said.
"She missed out on the national team this year but for sure she will make the next Viti Ruve team," the former national captain said.
The Oneata lass has cricket in her blood as her father Walesi Soqoiwasa played for the Samabula Cricket Club and is a founding member of the Oneata Cricket Club.
"I was in the village last year when he (Sekinini) asked me to be a scorekeeper and then my interest grew and I came to Suva for the trials," Bulatalei said.
"I missed out on selection in the main team and was kept as a standby but next year, I will do my best to prove my worth to the national selectors and make it into the Fiji team," she said.