CLEAR White Ferns squad named next Monday

CLEAR White Ferns squad named next Monday
New Zealand Cricket - 21 May 2001

The CLEAR White Ferns squad to prepare for the side's tour to India in November/December will be named next Monday 28 May.

To date the selectors have named a senior squad of ten players and a New Zealand 'A' squad of 12 players. These two squads will be merged and reduced in size to a total of 18 players who will prepare for the coming season.

Following the CLEAR White Ferns winning the World Cup last December, a number of senior players have announced their retirement or unavailability.

New Zealand's greatest ever woman cricketer, Debbie Hockley; and long-serving spin bowler Catherine Campbell, have both retired. Leading strike bowler, Katrina Keenan and spin bowler, Clare Nicholson, are currently unavailable for selection.

The 'A' squad attended a camp at the New Zealand Cricket High Performance Centre at Lincoln over the weekend and convenor of selectors, Lesley Murdoch, was pleased with the talent on show.

"The CLEAR White Ferns have entered a re-building phase with the loss of a group of our most experienced and talented players. It will not be easy to replace the 60-odd years of experience which Hockley, Campbell, Keenan and Nicholson represent.

"However it is heartening to see the skills and enthusiasm of the next generation of New Zealand cricketers on show at the 'A' squad camp over the weekend. With both Catherine Campbell and Clare Nicholson no longer involved it was pleasing to see the depth in spin bowling.

"It was also encouraging to see the improvement in the four young players who are a part of the fulltime New Zealand Cricket Academy set-up. They are clearly benefiting from the intensive coaching and training opportunity," Murdoch said.

The current 10-strong senior squad is: Emily Drumm (Auckland), Paula Flannery (Canterbury), Anna O'Leary (Wellington), Nicola Payne (Canterbury), Rachel Pullar (Otago), Kathryn Ramel (Auckland), Rebecca Rolls (Auckland), Haidee Tiffen (Canterbury), Emily Travers (Central Districts), Helen Watson (Auckland).

The current 'A' squad of 12 players is: Nicola Browne (Northern Districts), Sarah Burke (Canterbury), Anna Corbin (Wellington), Maria Fahey (Canterbury), Fiona Fraser (Canterbury), Philippa Gerrish (Central Districts), Erin McDonald (Central Districts), Katey Martin (Otago), Aimee Mason (Central Districts), Louise Milliken (Northern Districts), Natalee Scripps (Auckland), Munokoa Tunupopo (Auckland).

The four Academy players are: Sarah Burke (Canterbury), Fiona Fraser (Canterbury), Philippa Gerrish (Central Districts), Aimee Mason (Central Districts).

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