Callee Black has stepped up to first grade for Penrith and she's already impressed

While Black is now in her fourth season with Penrith and was named their female cricketer of the year for her efforts last summer, she has only just stepped up to the club's senior ranks.

Though the star all-rounder is still eligible for the under 18 Brewer Shield, Black is no stranger to playing above her age group.

Still, when she lined up for her first grade debut Penrith vice-captain Rebecca Cady - a fellow Bathurst native - did not know much about Black.

That soon changed.

Wicket-keeper batsman Cady, who had sat out 2021-20 due to a knee injury, watched Black make a handy unbeaten 11 off nine as Penrith took on Parramatta in a Twenty20 competition.

But when she gloved the first ball of Black's opening over, that's when Cady realised how special the teenager is.

"She turned up the other day for a Twenty20 and the coach said to me that Callee Black was here. I said 'What does she do then?' because I did know her," Cady admitted.

"The coach told me she'll open the bowling and I said 'Okay, cool'. Anyway she steams in on her first one and nearly took my hand off keeping. I was like 'Geeze! Alright, nice'.

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"I was really happy to watch her bat too, she came out and scored some really good runs for us when we needed it.

"I'm super stoked to be able to get her on board, we had to get an exemption for her to play first grade, so I'm really glad that come through."

Black has played two more first grade fixtures since then and is no doubt learning off the likes of Cady plus two other Central West talents at the club in Phoebe Litchfield and Emma Hughes.

Penrith are being careful to manage the teen star, who plays club cricket in Bathurst on Saturdays before joining them on Sundays.

"A player like her doesn't come around very often, especially in a bowling form, so we have look after her," Cady said.

"She's special, I'm very impressed with her."

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