Kim Garth describes it as a “very unique journey”.

It’s hard to argue with her.

The Irish-born star is preparing to play her 100th WBBL game, more than a decade after first arriving in Australia on an associate nation training permit.

Garth was just 14 when she burst onto the international scene for Ireland in 2010.

Shortly after, Garth was offered an opportunity to sharpen her skills in Australia.

But it became something much bigger when she fell in love with the country and made the leap to move across the world.

Garth’s Big Bash path started at Sydney Sixers as a rookie before she moved to Perth Scorchers as an overseas marquee.

She eventually landed at Melbourne Stars and will reach her triple-figure milestone in green.

In 2021 Garth became an Australian resident and her career hasn’t deviated from top gear since.

“It’s a very unique journey but I have loved every one of my hundred games and it’s probably quite fitting that my 100th is at North Sydney,” Garth said.

“I have loved my journey, it’s a cool achievement and one I am very proud of.”

Garth is a modern-day Australian champion, with fingerprints on historic Ashes whitewashes and World Cup wins.

But Ireland still runs deep in her veins and mentioning home never fails to bring a smile to her face.

Garth returned home after this year’s World Cup win and celebrated her 30th birthday at her childhood cricket club in Dublin.

She took teammates Annabel Sutherland, Sophie Molineux and Alana King on tour, filled with pride for the place and people that sparked her career.

“That was just really special I guess having all my family and friends back home combined with some of the Aussie girls as well,” Garth said.

“I got home, we had a couple of big nights in Dublin as well, which was fun, then kind of a week before a chill time.

“It’s always nice to get home, I’ve been very lucky that cricket has allowed me to get home a couple of times a year just the way schedules have worked out.”

Garth has a habit of leaving Ireland more exhausted than when she arrives for a break between tours.

There are too many people to see, too many places to visit and – as teammates discovered – the unfinished search for the best pint of Guinness.

“I tried to take them to all the good watering holes and find a good pint of Guinness – it was pretty jam packed,” Garth joked.

“But when it is just me at home, trying to see everyone you can, you go home for a break but it ends up being pretty tiring.”

Originally published as ‘Very unique journey’: Irish-born Australian champion reaches WBBL milestone