Strength and conditioning coach, Anthea Murray is playing a crucial role in preparing Papua New Guinea’s National Women’s Cricket Team, the PNG LEWAS, for the Women’s East Asia Pacific World Cup Qualifiers in Fiji, starting September 7. Working closely with Head Coach Mahuru Dai, Murray is ensuring the athletes are physically ready to compete at the highest international level. The team will travel to Brisbane on August 31 for final preparations. Murray’s journey into high-performance coaching began in 2022 when she earned her Australian Strength and Conditioning Association (ASCA) Level 1 certification, supported by the Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee (PNGOC). In 2024, she advanced to ASCA Level 2 training in Melbourne through Cricket Australia, gaining valuable experience in elite athlete development and high-performance environments. “Every athlete’s potential can be unlocked with the right preparation, guidance, and mindset. Cricket is not just about runs and wickets it is about resilience and trust.” As a former competitive swimmer representing PNG from the age of nine, Murray brings discipline, mental toughness, and a deep understanding of peak performance to cricket. She has worked with elite female athletes, national under-19 teams, and senior men’s squads, developing a coaching philosophy that blends physical conditioning with holistic athlete development. Murray is also a trailblazer in a male-dominated high-performance space, using her journey to inspire the next generation of female coaches in Papua New Guinea. “Strength and conditioning are not just a job; it is a calling. My vision is to establish a High-Performance Institute in PNG to provide young athletes with world-class coaching, testing, and education.” Strength and conditioning focus on improving an athlete’s strength, speed, endurance, agility, and flexibility. In addition, it also emphasizes injury prevention and faster recovery through targeted exercises and training. “In short, it’s about turning raw talent into a strong, resilient, and high-performing athlete.” With Murray’s guidance, the PNG LEWAS are entering the qualifiers stronger, faster, and more resilient, ready to represent their nation with confidence. Her leadership highlights the growing influence of female coaches in elite sport and demonstrates the impact of high-performance training in raising Papua New Guinea’s international sporting profile.