Photo Credit: New Zealand Cricket
New Zealand’s next generation of female talent will get the opportunity to test themselves on a ground-breaking tour to India over the next month.
A 15-strong New Zealand Women’s development squad has been selected to take part in a series of T20 matches against India and the West Indies – the first time New Zealand Cricket has ever sent a women’s development squad away on tour.
The squad includes players eligible to represent New Zealand at the first ever U19 Women’s World Cup next year, and a handful of over-19 players aiming to continue their development in new conditions.
New Zealand Cricket Head of Women’s High Performance Liz Green said the tour, which comprises two T20 fixtures against West Indies and five against India, was another step towards growing the women’s high-performance pathway in New Zealand.
“This is an exciting time for New Zealand Cricket and especially for the 15 players selected to travel on this tour,” said Green.
“The chance to travel to India, a place that lives and breathes cricket, and test themselves in new and challenging conditions, is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and one I’m sure all the players are relishing.
“Experiencing different conditions and countries is vital in a player’s development, particularly with the globalisation of the modern game, so this tour will give the players valuable experience and help them become better cricketers.
“It is also a great chance for players targeting a spot in the World Cup squad to put their hand up and prove that they’re ready.
“We have seen how valuable development and A tours have been in producing better cricketers in the men’s game, so we hope that this tour can have similar results in the women’s space.”
Included in the squad are 18-year-old WHITE FERNS wicketkeeper Izzy Gaze and fellow WHITE FERNS contracted player Nensi Patel.
The pair’s inclusion signals NZC’s intention to develop their most promising players in new and challenging conditions and means they will be unavailable for the upcoming WHITE FERNS series against Bangladesh in December.
The squad also features nine players who were involved in the first ever New Zealand U19 Women’s squad which faced the New Zealand Police XI and a New Zealand Provincial XI last summer.
New Zealand Women Development Squad
Ocean Bartlett (Central Districts)
Emily Brosnahan (Otago)
Anna Browning (Auckland)
Prue Catton (Auckland)
Natasha Codyre (Wellington)
Olivia Gain (Otago)
Isabella Gaze (Auckland)
Abigale Gerken (Canterbury)
Amie Hucker (Auckland)
Breearne Illing (Auckland)
Paige Loggenberg (Otago)
Kayley Knight (Northern Districts)
Ashtuti Kumar (Central Districts)
Nensi Patel (Northern Districts)
Makayla Templeton (Auckland)
Former WHITE FERN Sara McGlashan will lead the side as head coach, supported by Donovan Grobbelaar and Tarun Nethula as assistant coaches.
The squad departs for India on November 19 ahead of the opening match against West Indies in Mumbai on November 22.
New Zealand Women’s Development Tour of India
(all T20 matches)
Tuesday 22 November – v West Indies U19 (D.Y. Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai)
Thursday 24 November – v West Indies U19 (D.Y. Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai)
Sunday 27 November – v India U19 (Mumbai Cricket Association, Bandra Kurla Complex)
Tuesday 29 November – v India U19 (Mumbai Cricket Association, Bandra Kurla Complex)
Thursday 1 December – v India U19 (Mumbai Cricket Association, Bandra Kurla Complex)
Sunday 4 December – v India U19 (Mumbai Cricket Association, Bandra Kurla Complex)
Tuesday 6 December – v India U19 (Mumbai Cricket Association, Bandra Kurla Complex)
