A revamped approach to her batting is behind Nicole Bolton's resurgence from Twenty20 oblivion to being part of Australia's Women's World T20 charge.
Bolton is back in Australia's 15-strong squad for the global tournament after having not played for her country in the format for more than two years.
Seventh all-time on the list of Australian one-day batting averages with 43.93 in her 47 games, Bolton has only played two T20s for Australia and the last of those only came as a last-minute replacement through illness.
However the 29-year-old has spent the past two seasons determined to get back into the team, changing her approach to batting in the process.
"It has probably taken me to the latter point of my career to not actually think about getting out, just go out there and score some runs," Bolton told AAP.
"I think for many years early on in my career I had a bit of a fixed mindset ... I thought I've got this game and it's been successful to a point so why would I need to change?
"It hasn't been until I missed selection in T20 and some players have come from nowhere playing that exciting brand that I thought I actually need to take it up a notch."
Still with a battle ahead of her to be named in the XI when the tournament begins in the Caribbean against Pakistan on Saturday (AEDT), Bolton has given herself every chance.
The Perth opener was third-leading run-scorer in last summer's Women's Big Bash League at a strike-rate of above 100, and backed it up with a successful first season in England's Super League.
Most impressively, the up-tempo approach hasn't hurt her one-day game, where she has still averaged at 51.86 in her past eight games dating back to last summer.
It represents a wider change from the Australian team under coach Matthew Mott, who are desperate to play more attacking cricket from the outset.
"When Motty spoke to me he was adamant it wasn't about sheer weight of runs, it was about how I went about it," Bolton said.
"Strike-rate is a big thing in T20 cricket and that's an area I really needed to improve on.
"I had to learn to access different parts of the ground and put the bowlers under pressure."
Australian Associated Press
