Central Hinds Rosemary Mair (Hawke’s Bay), Jess Watkin (Whanganui) and Georgia Atkinson (Wairarapa) have all been selected in a new New Zealand Development Squad.

The youthful squad will play Australia Under-19 in three 50-over matches on March 12, 14 and 16 and a T20 on March 17 at NZC’s High Performance Centre in Lincoln.

Improving the high-performance pathway for women cricketers is the basis for the 14-strong squad and NZC says it hopes to have a reciprocal series later this year in Australia. While New Zealand’s squad is not strictly an U19 squad by age, the focus is providing a development opportunity for young talent.

The squad was chosen by the national women’s selectors Kirsty Bond, Emily Drumm and Haidee Tiffen, and will assemble at Lincoln on March 10. Matt Bell has been appointed Head Coach of the squad; assisted by Nick White and Kari Carswell.

A captain has yet to be named.

CDCA congratulates our three Central Hinds named in the squad, with Georgia Atkinson recognised at national level for the first time. Mair’s selection continues an outstanding summer which has already witnessed a successful Twenty20 International debut against India and ODI debut against Australia in the current Rose Bowl Series while Jess Watkin turned heads mid-2018 with her own introduction to international cricket, scoring an unbeaten 77* on T20i debut and 62 on ODI debut against Ireland.

New Zealand Development Squad

Bella Armstrong — Auckland Hearts

Georgia Atkinson — Central Hinds

Lauren Down — Auckland Hearts

Katie Gurrey — Northern Spirit

Polly Inglis — Otago Sparks

Arlene Kelly — Auckland Hearts

Jess Kerr —- Wellington Blaze

Rosemary Mair — Central Hinds

Jess McFayden — Wellington Blaze

Thamsyn Newton — Wellington Blaze

Jacinta Savage — Canterbury Magicians

Saachi Shahri — Auckland Hearts

Jessica Simmons — Canterbury Magicians

Jess Watkin — Central Hinds

Article added: Tuesday 26 February 2019