NZC's North Island versus South Island T20 Series is coming to McLean Park for the first time, with all three games - this Friday, Saturday and Sunday - FREE admission to all.

Re-established last summer, the purpose of the Island of Origin series is to provide more playing opportunities for our top and emerging crop of female cricketers, to reduce the gap between Domestic and International cricket - with selection a reward for performances across both the one-day Hallyburton Johnstone Shield and Dream11 Super Smash competitions.

Four CENTRAL HINDS have been named for this year's summer, with Nelson's CLAUDIA GREEN returning for the South Island team and Manawatū's MIKAELA GREIG, Wairarapa's EMMA McLEOD and Hawke's Bay local FLORA DEVONSHIRE all getting their first call-up for the North Island.

HANNAH ROWE and ROSEMARY MAIR also repped the North last year, but are unavailable under NZC's workload management programme, in between WHITE FERNS camps and Domestic and International fixtures.

Hinds Assistant Coach DEEPAK JOON will also cross the metaphorical Strait to coach the South Island, with Hinds Head Coach JACOB ORAM currently assisting the BLACKCAPS in the Test Series against Australia after the Hinds' impressive T20 summer.

The Island of Origin series is part of NZC’s broader planning in the women’s High Performance programme, which also sees the reintroduction of a New Zealand A series in March - coming up at Nelson's Saxton Oval against England A.

Five contracted WHITE FERNS will bolster the Island sides, with South captain Hayley Jensen and Kate Anderson both named in the South team, and Izzy Gaze, Georgia Plimmer and Molly Penfold included in the North, captained by Blaze's Leigh Kasperek (who technically first appeared for the South, in Otago).

Allrounder Jensen will captain six Otago Sparks teammates fresh off winning the 2023/24 one-day HBJ title last weekend.

North is the defending champion and will be coached by Central Stags CD Alumnus and current

Auckland Hearts Performance and Talent coach TARUN NETHULA, with th two coaches supported by WHITE FERNS head coach Ben Sawyer and NZC High Performance Pathways coach and Central Hinds CD Alumna, SARA McGLASHAN.

PHOTOSPORT

Head of Women’s High Performance, and fellow Central Hinds CD Alumna, LIZ GREEN said it was important to keep creating opportunities for up-and-coming players.

“It’s going to be a great weekend,” Green said.

“There’s a lot of rivalry between Domestic teams so it’s a unique experience coming together and playing alongside one another.

“It’ll be exciting to watch some of our most promising young talent playing really competitive cricket.”

Green has been impressed with the number of players making real progress over the summer.

EMMA McLEOD

“We’ve seen a number of players stepping up this season which is a combination of hard work and more game time.

“It’s exciting to see the impact that increased playing opportunities is having on the development of players and, with that, confirmation that we’re on the right track.”

All three free admission T20 matches will be played at Napier’s McLean Park, with the Friday and Sunday games starting at 10.30am and Saturday's afternoon match from 2PM.

The matches will also be livescored at nzc.nz and the NZC App, and livestreamed on NZC YouTube.

NORTH ISLAND 2024

Leigh Kasperek - captain, Wellington Blaze

Prue Catton - Auckland Hearts

Flora Devonshire - Central Hinds

Marama Downes - Northern Brave

Izzy Gaze - Auckland Hearts

Mikaela Greig - Central Hinds

Bree Illing - Auckland Hearts

Emma McLeod - Central Hinds

Nensi Patel - Northern Brave

Josie Penfold - Auckland Hearts

Molly Penfold - Auckland Hearts

Georgia Plimmer - Wellington Blaze

Saachi Shahri - Auckland Hearts

SOUTH ISLAND 2024

Hayley Jensen - captain, Otago Sparks

Kate Anderson - Canterbury Magicians

Sarah Asmussen - Canterbury Magicians

Emma Black - Otago Sparks

Caitlin Blakely - Otago Sparks

Olivia Gain - Otago Sparks

Claudia Green - Central Hinds

Polly Inglis - Otago Sparks

Bella James - Otago Sparks

Felicity Robertson - Otago Sparks

Izzy Sharp - Canterbury Magicians

Jess Simmons - Canterbury Magicians

Gabby Sullivan - Canterbury Magicians

WHITE FERNS unavailable for selection

Sophie Devine, Melie Kerr, Lea Tahuhu – WPL

Eden Carson, Suzie Bates, Fran Jonas, Maddy Green – specialist camp in Lincoln

Hannah Rowe, Rosemary Mair, Jess Kerr, Brooke Halliday – workload management

Bernadine Bezuidenhout – injury, return to play programme

 

Article added: Friday 1 March 2024