The 2024/25 NZC Women's Domestic summer is poised to begin this weekend in Wellington, Mt Maunganui and Rangiora, with the first six matches of the one-day Hallyburton Johnstone Shield - if the weather behaves.
Last season winners the Otago Sparks are off to Rangiora for a southern derby weekend with the Canterbury Magicians - where a major New Zealand domestic record could fall if Frankie Mackay gets literally a few runs.
Further north in the capital, last season's runner-up, Wellington Blaze, and their neighbours on either side of the Cook Strait, the Central Hinds will both have new captains when they meet each other at the Cello Basin Reserve.
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And at Mt Maunganui's jewel that is Bay Oval, Northern Districts are also playing their next-door neighbours, the Auckland Hearts in the first of the 10 rounds of the regular season that operates either side of the Dream11 Super Smash midsummer window.
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Six rounds before Christmas, then the business end from February will sort out who will be heading to this year's Grand Final in Dunedin (yes, it's already inked in as the host venue) on Saturday, 1 March 2025.
CAPTAINCY NEWS
So who has the armbands who didn't last season?
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Wellington Blaze will be led by Rebecca Burns for the first time, and her first opponent is the Central Hinds who will be captained by experienced Mikaela Greig, who takes over from Natalie Dodd as Dodd bypasses this season - she is awaiting the birth of her first child.
A former Hinds T20 captain, Jess Watkin meanwhile steps up for ND in the leadership boots this season, taking over from Eimear Richardson who has returned to Ireland.
SQUAD SURPRISES
Kate Ebrahim is back!
Not for the Otago Sparks this time, but back with the Canterbury Magicians - yet another team with whom she has won this trophy - where the all-round powerhouse will be keen to add yet another trophy title to her collection.
PHOTOSPORT
UNCAPPED PLAYERS
The Central Hinds have brought in uncapped, newly contracted Taranaki Grace Foreman who is a handy pace bowler who can also bat.
The Magicians have ex-Aucklander Emma Irwin and Libby Stead, whose dad is a BLACKCAPS coach and whose great-aunt played Test cricket for the WHITE FERNS.
Gary and daughter Libby Stead | PHOTOSPORT
All the family represented Canterbury, and the latest Stead is in the frame to make her Canterbury List A debut after a steady progression through the age-groups.
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Irwin has previous played five matches for the Auckland Hearts at this level across 2021/22 and 2022/23, but is in line to turn out in red for the first time - while sister Kate continues to represent the big smoke further north.
Our first squad of the season for our SBS Bank Otago Sparks ⚡️
— Otago Cricket (@OtagoCricket) November 14, 2024
Sparks take on the Magicians in Rangiora this weekend. pic.twitter.com/dzbO5022rY
Anna Browning has previously played "HBJ" for the Auckland Hearts but now that she's moved down south, the ex-NZ U19 rep is in line to make her Otago Sparks debut.
And another former Hearts rep, Skye Bowden, could be stepping out in the ND maroon for the first time.
SERIOUS STATS ALERT
Right now, retired Canterbury and WHITE FERNS legend Amy Satterthwaite holds a remarkable record in New Zealand Domestic cricket.
But not for much longer - if all goes to plan for Frankie Mackay.
The graceful left-handed Satterthwaite scored more List A (elite level one-day) runs for a single team than any other player in New Zealand domestic history - and that is whether you are talking men's or women's teams.
In fact, it's women and then daylight, where this particular record is concerned.
Frankie Mackay in action for her beloved Magicians | PHOTOSPORT
Satterthwaite retired with 5,147 career one-day runs for the Canterbury Magicians, and now, just as impressively, her longtime teammate Mackay needs just three more runs - yes, three, that's all - to break the Canterbury and national Domestic record for most List A runs for a single team.
By the way, the men's record in this category is held by retired Central Stags run machine Mathew Sinclair (still occasionally spotted playing club cricket in Hawke's Bay) with 4,465 career runs in the green.
Chris Harris still holds the Canterbury men's record with 4,256, impressively as an allrounder back in his 90s heyday.
Satterthwaite's last match was the 2023 Grand Final | PHOTOSPORT
Perhaps the impact of Satterthwaite and Mackay on the Canterbury women's game is best felt when you look at the third highest run-getter on that Magicians all-time list.
Debbie Hockley was one of the world's absolute best batters in her day, but her former Canterbury record of 2,810 runs has long since been relegated to the bronze position.
Mackay is already the leading wicket-taker in the history Hallyburton Johnstone Shield and now stands to become its leading run-scorer, too.
Side-note: Magicians skipper Laura Hughes is poised to chalk up 150 games across both formats for Canterbury, too.
HOW TO FOLLOW
The toss is due to occur at each ground at 10am (weather permitting) on both Saturday (round one) and Sunday (round two) - with free livestreams and livescoring on NZC YouTube, nzc.nz scorecards and the NZC app.
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If you're near Bay Oval, the Basin or Mainpower Oval this weekend - every match is free to attend, and you might even get to see some of our world champion WHITE FERNS playing for their Domestic team!
