Today the full itinerary for women’s cricket has been announced by New Zealand Cricket.
The women’s domestic competitions will have a new sponsor this year. Action Indoor Sports, who are the principal sponsor of the White Ferns, are extending their involvement in women’s cricket to include the naming rights for women’s domestic competitions.
“We are delighted the relationship between women’s cricket and Action Indoor Sports has been strengthened by their involvement at domestic level,” said New Zealand Cricket CEO, Justin Vaughan.
A full round of the newly named Action Cricket Cup and Action Cricket Twenty20 will kick off on Friday 10 December.
In an endorsement for the popularity of Twenty20 cricket the women’s domestic competitions have been revamped to include two full rounds of the shortest version with one full round of Action Cricket Cup One-Day cricket.
“It’s a very exciting phase with Twenty20 playing a major part in the growth of women’s cricket,” Vaughan said.
“We believe the shortened format will pave the way for greater involvement of women in cricket from school and club level through to Major Association and international arenas.”
The White Ferns will host Australia in the annual Rose Bowl series in a split tour comprising of two matches in late December with six further matches played in February.
The first of five Twenty20 Rose Bowl matches will be played on December 28 before the BLACKCAPS take on Pakistan at Seddon Park and will be televised live on SKY TV.
The teams then move to Saxton Field in Nelson on Thursday 30 December before the final three Twenty20 matches at Queens Park in Invercargill starting on Friday 18 February. Three One-Day Internationals at Lincoln complete the series with the winner decided over both formats.
White Ferns coach Gary Stead is looking forward to facing the old foe.
“We came close to winning the Rose Bowl last summer and are desperate to turn the tables this year.
“The Twenty20 format suits our team and we have a good record against the Australians so the make up of the tour gives us a really good chance.
"The 2010-11 summer promises to be an exciting one for women’s cricket. The Rose Bowl, Action Cricket Cup and extended Action Cricket Twenty20 will provide some superb entertainment.”
