The White Ferns arrived home last night after a month long tour around Australia and they are excited about their two Twenty20 and three ODI games against the trans-Tasman rivals on home soil.
White Ferns building momentum
The White Ferns come into Friday’s game at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington with three Twenty20 wins under their belts after a terrible start to the One-Day Rose Bowl Series, losing all the 50-over.
Coach Gary Stead said although they didn’t start the tour well, the team improved vastly to take out the three Twenty20 games. “This tour has showed true character after a defeat in the One-Day Series,” he said. “But it was good winning two tight games in the Twenty20 and hopefully we can carry that momentum on in New Zealand.”
Double header
The White Ferns go back to back with the BLACKCAPS in the two Twenty20 games. The first in Wellington starts at 2.45pm, while the game at AMI Stadium in Christchurch begins at 1.45 on Sunday afternoon, with both games being televised. “I think the players are excited about showcasing their skills in front of the public and television,” he said. “Our games have been televised during World Cups but I think this is the first time in New Zealand that our games have been on television.”
Watkins confident
White Ferns captain Aimee Watkins is also optimistic about their chances against the Southern Stars on national television. “After a five-nil drumming in the One-Dayers it was nice to win three in a row,” she said. “Hopefully there will be a few people at the ground watching us or tuning in on Sky.”
They’ve had the wood on their trans-Tasman rivals in the shortest form of the game for some time, winning their last four encounters stretching back to last years World Cup in England.
Twenty20 Head to Head
Played - 20
White Ferns won – 12
Australia won – 6
Tied - 2
After the two twenty20 games, the women head to Queenstown and Invercargill to participate in three One-Day Internationals and although the White Ferns went down 5-0 on Australian soil Gary Stead is optimistic they will be able to turn it around. “Hopefully we can carry the momentum with bat and ball from the Twenty20s into the One-Dayers. The better we get in the Twenty20 the better we will get in the 50 over game,” he concluded.
