CLEAR White Ferns head to Australia in December to play three matches against Queensland
New Zealand Cricket - 30 November 2001

New Zealand Cricket has today announced that the CLEAR White Ferns will travel to Australia to play three matches against Queensland.

The 15-player squad departing for Australia on 15 December 2001 is unchanged from the one selected to go on the tour to India that was abandoned last month.

The Indian tour was cancelled because of security concerns following the September 11 terrorist attacks.

In preparation for the matches against Queensland the team will assemble on 9 December at Lincoln, Christchurch, where they will play three matches against a New Zealand Women's Selection side before departing for Australia.

The three matches at Lincoln will allow the selectors to look at seven other leading players prior to the naming of the New Zealand Women's A team to tour Australia next year.

New Zealand Cricket CEO, Martin Snedden, said that the CLEAR White Ferns, who have a home and away series against Australia in February, and the New Zealand A contenders both need the matches.

"We've been working towards putting together an alternative tour for the CLEAR White Ferns since their planned tour to India was cancelled earlier this month," he said.

"To be perfectly honest, it is difficult to organise meaningful tours for our women's teams because, apart from Australia, who with New Zealand are clearly at the top of women's international cricket, there is really only England and, to a lesser degree, India who can offer us any genuine competition."

Snedden believed women's cricket in New Zealand, Australia and England was of a higher standard because it was integrated with the respective governing bodies that run men's cricket.

"These three countries are putting the resources and expertise into women's cricket necessary to ensure its ongoing development.

"Those who saw last year's CricInfo Women's World Cup final between New Zealand and Australia will be aware of the high quality women's cricket these two countries are playing.

"I think it's fair to say that some of the governing bodies of cricket-playing nations do not, at this stage, give women's cricket the support it clearly warrants and this is reflected in the lack of development of the women's game in those countries."

It is an issue Snedden intends to raise at the next ICC meeting.

"Obviously it is in the interests of the New Zealand women's cricket that the game continues to develop at an international level.

"I will be emphasising New Zealand Cricket's stance on the development of international women's cricket when the ICC meets again," he said.

CLEAR WHITE FERNS PRE XMAS TOUR

DECEMBER 2001

Monday 10 - v NZ 'A' at Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln
Tuesday 11 - Practice
Wednesday 12 - v NZ 'A' at Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln
Thursday 13 - v NZ 'A' at Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln
Friday 14 - Practice
Saturday 15 - Depart for Brisbane
Sunday 16 - Practice
Monday 17 - v Queensland at the Allan Border Field, Brisbane
Tuesday 18 - Practice
Wednesday 19 - v Queensland at the Gabba, Brisbane
Thursday 20 - v Queensland at the Gabba, Brisbane
Friday 21 - Return to New Zealand

© New Zealand Cricket


Related Link Women's Cricket
Teams Australia, New Zealand.
Players/Umpires Martin Snedden.