The demon fast bowler

Fitzpatrick is the fastest women bowler in the world

One of the most formidable opponents England will face in this summer's Ashes is Australian stalwart Cathryn Fitzpatrick and BBC Sport Online's Gabrielle Lewis finds out why.

The world's fastest woman bowler likes to skirt around the subject of her devastating pace, preferring instead to let others do the talking.

Cathryn Fitzpatrick, who has reputedly hit speeds of 125kmh, has been a key member of the Australian squad for more than 10 years and will arrive in England for this summer's Ashes series as one of the tourists' two longest servants.

Captain Belinda Clark, who debuted with Fitzpatrick against India in 1991, is the only other player who has rooted in as one of Australia's indispensables over the last decade.

People say I've bowled at 125kmh, but I think that's more of an estimate

  Cathryn Fitzpatrick

But the 33-year-old postwoman from Victoria could be firing her right arm missiles on the international stage for the last time this summer.

Unable to make the most of her pace in the more prolific one-day games favoured by the majority of women's cricket playing nations, Fitzpatrick is not ruling out making the second Ashes Test against England, starting 6 July, her swansong.

"This summer might be my last," Fitzpatrick said. "It doesn't seem like any other countries want to play Tests.

"So you train all winter and sometimes all summer just to play one-day games.

"It's a whole different feeling playing Tests and I love playing Test matches and going on a tour that includes Test matches. They're better for me and suit my game more."

Biomechanics

All of which means she is ecstatic to be building up to the two Test Ashes series that sandwich three one-day internationals.

Having played in three World Cups - again comprising one-day games - and been a regular fixture on touring parties, Fitzpatrick has come across England several times and the hosts know all too well the formidable threat they face.

On Australia's 1998 tour of the British Isles, Fitzpatrick became the first woman to take five wickets in an innings at the one-day match at Lord's.

She went on to rifle through the England order in the Test match at Guildford, where she recorded career best figures of four for 91.

Although fully aware of her reputation, Fitzpatrick is far from over-confident.

"People say I've bowled at 125kmh, but I think that's more of an estimate.

"Sometimes it's 115kmh, sometimes faster. It's the top order batsmen who let you know you're the fastest," she explained.

"But reputation will count for nothing.

"Experience will be important if the one-dayers go down to the wire. But if both teams are going for it, you don't have to have been playing for 10 years to want to win."

However, the demon blonde could so easily not have made it this far.

The aim was not to bowl faster, but more efficiently

  Cathryn Fitzpatrick

Adaptations to her bowling technique have increased her career's longevity and added a new dimension to pace attack in the women's game.

"Had I maintained the action I had leading up to 1995, I probably would have broken down with injury by now and wouldn't be playing any more," she added.

"But John Harmer (former Australian coach) has perfected my technique.

"The aim was not to bowl faster, but more efficiently.

"Having got the biomechanics right, the rest has fallen into place. "

With that in mind, England have every right to be concerned.