Black finds true calling in inspiring the next generation of Indigenous athletes

Some might be surprised to hear Wellington's Callee Black's love for cricket wasn't instant.

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But inspiring the next generation of Indigenous players helped her realise it was her true calling.

Black represents the 2025/26 CricketNSW Indigenous Women's Squad. Picture: Supplied.

"There was a time where I was just doing it because I was good at it and people told me of my potential," she said.

"But now I'm truly growing as an individual and as a cricketer....the reason I still play is because I love the game.

"I get to do two things that I love and that's connecting through cricket and culture."

Named to the Cricket NSW Indigenous Women's Squad for both 2025 and 2026, Black represented her team at the inaugural PacificAus Sports Cricket Invitational. A proud Wiradjuri woman, she calls her selection over the years a true honour.

"I get to represent something that is bigger than myself...I represent my family, my mob and my state," the 19-year-old said.

"There's nothing better than getting to be immersed in your culture."

The left-arm all-rounder has had her sights on the squad since she was a young girl looking up to Indigenous cricketers like Hannah Darlington and Anika Learoyd - players she now gets to take the field alongside.

"It's one of those things that I look forward to having a part in every year... you're constantly learning new things not just about your own identity but about everyone who came before you," she said.

"It shows anyone out there that it's possible, it shows young Indigenous kids that they can do it."

Beyond advancing her own career, Black is dedicated to using her platform to inspire young Indigenous boys and girls to chase their dreams.

"If I can inspire one kid to believe in themselves and to play cricket then I feel like I've achieved something," she said.

"It's so important for young Indigenous kids to have someone to look up to."

Black in action. Picture: Supplied.

Black's earliest cricket memory stems from a school teacher who drafted her into the sport simply because they knew her sister Tayler's skills on the pitch.

"She signed me up then and there," Black said.

"I remember playing cricket with the kids at school and it truly became the highlight of my week.

"When we'd have training on Fridays with all the boys, I used to love getting involved and truly competing with them even from a young age."

Black was a little bit more talented with bat and ball than her peers. While she enjoyed competing, her primary motivation was simply hanging out with friends on weekends.

"I loved that I got to see my friends and have an impact on a game with everything I do," she said.

"Whether that be in the field, when I bat or when I bowl, I just love being out there."

Black's talent was put in the spotlight in 2018 when she moved to Bathurst at age 14. She made her debut in first grade women's cricket and went on to be named Penrith Cricket Club's women's cricketer of the year.

The following season, she was named player of the year for Penrith's under 15 Brewer Shield side after smashing 106 runs and taking seven wickets across four matches. Her trajectory only continued upward; the next year, playing in the under 18s, she elevated her game to score 237 runs and claim 17 wickets.

When asked if she felt intimidated by making such a big move at a young age, Black said she barely gave it a second thought. For her, the excitement of playing cricket eclipsed everything else.

"I was just a young country kid playing sport and loving every minute of it," she said.

"I was oblivious to the levels I was playing at."

Black has made the switch to Campbelltown-Camden this season, where her passion for the game and her dedication as an Indigenous role model continue to grow.

"I made the move just for a fresh start, but every game I've played whether that be for Penrith or my current club I've loved," she said.

After celebrating so many achievements over the past five years, Black found it tough to pick just a few standouts when asked about her career highlights and future goals.

"It's hard to choose from....it's got to be when I won a first grade premiership or when we won the National Indigenous Cricket Championships, that meant the most to me," she said.

"I'm really happy and proud with where I am and what I've achieved.

"If more opportunities come, I'd take them with open arms."

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