Ahead of an exciting tour to South Africa, the WHITE FERNS have completed a pre-tour camp at Mount Maunganui’s Bay Oval.
Multiple trainings mixed in with two games against a Bay of Plenty rep side, gave the WHITE FERNS a very busy three days at Bay Oval.
The camp also saw the return of a familiar face, with double international Rebecca Rolls offering some words of inspiration to the squad.
Rolls played more than 100 ODI’s for the WHITE FERNS, and also featured in a Test match. Her recent international experience has been as part of the Football Ferns side at the Rio Olympics.
Coach Haidee Tiffen was thrilled to have Rolls contributing to the group.
“She spoke about her time in Rio and what she believes it takes to win. That was really invaluable.”
Getting outside and having playing time on grass was the key to the weekend for the WHITE FERNS. Tiffen was very pleased with the two games against the Bay of Plenty side.
A number of players caught the coach’s eye and impressed over the three days. Tiffen named Rachel Priest, Katie Perkins, Thamsyn Newton, Holly Huddleston, and Lea Tahuhu as some of the standouts.
The African tour will provide the team with a different kind of challenge, as this is the first stand-alone tour to South Africa for the WHITE FERNS. The last time the team played in South Africa was during the 2005 ICC Women’s World Cup. The first three ODI’s of the tour will also carry extra standing, as both teams will be vying for ICC Women’s Championship points.
“It is going to be a really challenging tour for us, we have 7 ODI’s. Both South Africa and us felt that, with the World Cup not far away it was really good preparation.”
The tour will provide players with an opportunity to put forward statements for selection ahead of the 2017 ICC Women’s World Cup.
“Our team are always wanting to grow as athletes, as people, and as cricketers.”
The team leaves for South Africa at the end of September and play their first ODI in South Africa on the 8th of October.
