White Ferns captain Aimee Watkins will be looking to her all-rounders for a Twenty20 edge over Australia when the two teams meet tomorrow in Hamilton in the opening match of the trans-Tasman Rosebowl women's cricket series.
The first two games in the eight-match series are Twenty20 fixtures, the first a curtain-raiser to the Black Caps second Twenty20 against Pakistan, and the second in Nelson on Thursday.
While Watkins acknowledges New Zealand's main strength lies in a power batting line-up, she also expects a top all-round effort from her versatile team.
"Our strength would be our batting, we've got some real boundary hitters and some power hitters," she told NZPA today.
"Obviously in Twenty 20, that's a real key thing, so we'll be looking to exploit that any way we can."
But with genuine all-rounders in Nic Browne, Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine and Lucy Doolan, Watkins has a range of options to suit any conditions.
"Pretty much everyone can bat and bowl -- I'm lucky as a captain, I can throw the ball at anyone and they can step up and do the job."
The last time the two teams met was at the world Twenty20 competition in Barbados in May, where the Australians stole home to win off the last ball.
Although the New Zealanders will be looking for revenge, they'll also be looking for consistency over the testing Rosebowl series.
After the first two Twenty20 matches this week, the players return to domestic competition for the next four weeks before regrouping in February for three more Twenty20 matches followed by three one-day games in an intense 11-day period.
Although the White Ferns have had plenty of exposure to the Australians over the last two years, Watkins is wary of any complacency.
"We've played each other a lot recently, so there probably won't be too many surprises," she said.
"But with the Twenty20 version of the game, you've always got to be on your toes and thinking of new ways to get the edge.
"There's never been a bad Australian team, or a weak one. We're not thinking there'll be too many surprises, but you've got to expect the unexpected a little bit as well."
There is only one change from the New Zealand team which toured England last year, Sarah Tsukigawa recalled in place of Maria Fahey.
The team is: Aimee Watkins, Suzie Bates, Erin Bermingham, Kate Broadmore, Nicola Browne, Sophie Devine, Natalie Dodd, Lucy Doolan, Sara McGlashan, Liz Perry, Katey Martin, Sian Ruck, Amy Satterthwaite, Sarah Tsukigawa.
NZPA
