EMBATTLED Labor MP Belinda Neal was “quiet, shy and attractive,” according to her former cricket coach Carl Sharpe, who coached Ms Neal when she was a member of the Orange’s women’s cricket team and boarded at Kinross Wolaroi School.

“She was totally different then to the way she’s been depicted in the media now, but people can change a lot in 20 years,” said Mr Sharpe.

Ms Neal’s conduct in Parliament, in public and on the sporting field has been in the spotlight.

Last week Prime Minister Kevin Rudd ordered her to undergo counselling for a pattern of unacceptable behaviour.

Mr Sharpe, who owns and manages coaching company Quality Sporting Services, was the coach and manager of Orange’s representative women’s cricket team in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and travelled with Ms Neal to Canberra and Newcastle for matches.

“She was one of the quieter members of the team, and wasn’t aggressive when she played,” said Mr Sharpe.

While Mr Sharpe had heard she had a “fiery personality”, he never witnessed it himself.

“If fact, the only problems I had was keeping the boys away,” said Mr Sharpe.

Ms Neal was usually placed fifth in the batting order and “not a standout player,” so Mr Sharpe said he wasn’t surprised that she had chosen not to make a career out of cricket.

“She was really only ever a social player,” he said.

“I’d lost track of her over the years so was very surprised to see her rear her head again like this.”