The 24-year-old university student, in the third year of an exercise physiology degree through The University of New England, brought home her third World T20 winners’ medal to go with her two previous medals and a World One Day winners’ medal.

She’s been playing cricket since a junior in Tamworth and playing grade as a teenager in the Tamworth District Cricket Association.

Her brothers, Sean and Troy, both played, with Sean playing for Central North and Country as a wicketkeeper before moving to Canberra where he played for the ACT Comets.

Tory still plays for South Tamworth, the opening bat scoring his first first grade century this season for his club as well as winning a second Northern Inland Premier League premiership with his Tamworth FC club as a goalkeeper.

Erin’s mother, Kerry Osborne, is delighted to have her daughter home.

“I’m very proud of her,” Kerry Osborne told The Leader.

“Proud of all three.”

TDCA president Richard Bullock was one of a number of people who took the time out to welcome Erin home at a special function, open to the public, at Ian “Butch” Southwell  Cricket House on Thursday.

“We’re all very proud of Erin, what she’s achieved and what she’s going to achieve.

“Having a home grown product like Erin is a huge boost for us.

‘We’re hoping we can get more young ladies playing cricket in 

Tamworth.

“I was at a come and try day at Gipps Street just recently and there were quite talented young primary school girls there.”

Tamworth has had a history of providing female cricketing internationals.

Helen Taylor, Leonie Roach and Leonie Coleman all played for Australia while Leanne Browne represented the State as an opening bat.

for Osborne the chance to relax with her family for the next six weeks or so is a pleasurable thought after celebrating such a brilliant win in Bangladesh. A player of the match in the World T20 semi final she said the highlight was watching her teammates develop a sense of belonging and belief in themselves as a team.

“They started to back themselves and play with a sense of freedom,” Osborne said.

“This is th first time I’ve thought about what we’ve actually accomplished. It’s an incredible thing.

“But it’s also wonderful coming home and having a civic reception in Sydney with the new Governor General (Peter Cosgrove) and the Commonwealth Bank naming a star after us.

“Then coming home to Tamworth today and this official welcome. It’s very humbling.”

While she has six weeks off she will continue to keep her fitness levels up with some gm work and running.

“I won’t pick up a bat or ball for a while though,” she said.

“Then we have the Pakistanis touring here in August and the West Indies in November,” she said.

“That’s great. I Think I’m very lucky to be playing.”

She always thought she’d play for the love of the game before work commitments took centre stage.

However such has been the rise in financial support for the female cricketers that she can now afford to play the game she loves.