When Leading Aircraftwoman Olivia Mulvany and Private Lex Mulvany stepped onto the pitch during the ADF Cricket Carnival at the beginning of the month, it wasn't just about bat and ball.
The Adelaide-born sisters grew up in a sporty household where a love of cricket was cultivated by their dad, an avid player and coach.
"We grew up in a very competitive household, but in a good way. We often played with each other growing up, and this was our first time playing against each other," Leading Aircraftwoman Mulvany said.
The duo said playing against each other created conflicting feelings, with both wanting the other to succeed and wanting to score for their own service.
"When she made a great shot out there I wanted to cheer for her but I couldn't, and when I bowled to her I wanted to get her out so badly," Private Mulvany said.
Older by two years, Leading Aircraftwoman Mulvany was playing her fourth carnival for Air Force, while Private Mulvany debuted for Army in her first year serving.
'Having three weeks to spend together, playing a sport that we love, we'd be crazy to say no.'
The sibling rivalry came to a head in the final one-day game. Leading Aircraftwoman Mulvany didn't get to bowl at her sister, but Private Mulvany rolled the arm over twice to test her sibling's skills.
"I don't usually think negatively when I'm playing, but when Lex bowled at me all I could think was 'whatever you do, don't get out'," Leading Aircraftwoman Mulvany said.
"I was a bit chirpy when she was batting, throwing some sledges, which I was hoping got in her head," Private Mulvany said.
They faced off again in the T20 final, with Private Mulvany bowling four balls to her sister. Three were blocked and one nudged for a single. Air Force fell for 61, and Army chased it down in eight overs.
Both sisters signed on full-time in their respective roles after Gap Year stints - Leading Aircraftwoman Mulvany as an armament technician and Private Mulvany as a clerk.
Their brother Charlie also serves in Air Force.
From the carnival, the sisters were selected for the ADF women's side. The following week they took to the field as teammates instead of opponents against the NSW Governors XI.
"I always prefer to play with her than against her, so it was awesome," Private Mulvany said.
"We got to share a bunk the entire week as well so I was harassing Liv the whole time. It was great."
Living in different states with fledgling ADF careers taking shape means the pair don't often get to see each other, which made their time together playing cricket more meaningful.
"Having three weeks to spend together, playing a sport that we love, we'd be crazy to say no," Leading Aircraftwoman Mulvany said.
