White Ferns x Women's World Cup: Buzzing For Game One
Embrace it yo.
It's not often that in any non-rugby sport, Aotearoa heads into a World Cup as one of the top contenders. That's exactly the case for the Women's Cricket World Cup as our White Ferns have been building ever so nicely for this tournament, blending world-class talent with experienced job-doers and astute coaching led by Haidee Tiffen.
Australia, England and West Indies will all be eager to stamp their mark on this tournament in pool-play and many have been quick to give the Aussies or Poms the favourites tag. Having followed the Ferns closely over the past 18 months, I don't hesitate in preaching that the White Ferns have the best players, the best depth and enough x-factor to win it all and ahead of their first game this weekend, winning the World Cup is the expectation.
Sri Lanka shouldn't pose too many problems for the White Ferns and the kiwis should be able to ease into their campaign with their second game against South Africa before they face Australia and West Indies, finishing with Pakistan. Of course the Ferns will have to be at their best to dispatch Sri Lanka and the game against South Africa will be another level-up, so we should get a nice insight into how Tiffen is thinking about her strongest team during these first two games.
I've rolled through a few low key players to keep tabs on and it goes without saying that skipper Suzie Bates, Amy Satterthwaite and Sophie Devine are crucial to Aotearoa's hopes in this World Cup. These three are legit superstars of women's cricket and if they perform as such over the course of the tournament, they will put the White Ferns in a very strong position.
What I'm really excited about though is the depth in this White Ferns squad. If the big-three don't perform, then there's Rachel Priest, Katey Martin and Katie Perkins who are all experienced batters capable of playing key roles. Lea Tahuhu and Holly Huddleston offer an undercover world-class seam attack and then the Ferns have a gang of spinners to chose from; Leigh Kasperek, Erin Bermingham, Amelia Kerr and Anna Peterson. Don't overlook the all-round spinning ability of Satterthwaite or even Maddy Green either.
Even with Tahuhu and Huddleston leading the attack, the presence of Hannah Rowe and Thamsyn Newton will make things interesting as they could bolster the Ferns seam attack.
Judging on the English conditions and the personnel in this squad, I suspect we'll see coach Tiffen stack the team with batters. This is only made possible thanks to four of the top-five (top-five of my strongest possible team) being certified all-rounders. Bates, Satterthwaite and Devine are all capable bowlers and opening batter Priest is the wicket-keeper. Devine is a near-certainty to bowl a fair chunk of her overs, with Bates and Satterthwaite chipping in if needed.
Runs should be scored easily on England's pitches and we've seen how the ICC prefers to roll out flatter decks for international tournaments to allows for plenty of runs. If that's not the case, the White Ferns will be happy because their bowling attack looks rather threatening and if there's any assistance for the seamers then Tahuhu and Huddleston will shine. Perhaps there might be some assistance for the spinners? Well then one of, if not the best spinner in the world Kasperek will be partnered by the experience leg-spin of Bermingham or the youthful leg-spin of Kerr.
The all-round ability of the top-five, should allow Tiffen to select seven batswomen and a four frontline bowlers, allowing for Devine, Bates and Satterthwaite's help. The bowling group is likely to consist of Tahuhu, Huddleston, Kasperek and Bermingham, while Devine should be batting at No.5 and Perkins at No.6, leaving that No.7 spot open.
My guess is that Peterson will bat No.7, especially after she top-scored for the White Ferns with 42 in a warm up game against Australia batting at No.8. Peterson is a fine off-spinner, averaging 17.41 in ODIs, which will only bolster the bowling attack and although Bates and Satterthwaite can do it all, the less bowling they have to do, the better.
Here's my team to face Sri Lanka with their key stats. Don't be surprised if Tiffen gives youngsters like Kerr, Green, Rowe and Newton an opportunity in this game, especially as Sri Lanka are probably going to be the Ferns' weakest opposition.
Suzie Bates (c): 98 games, 41.08avg/79.45sr, 30.79avg/4.87rpo.
Rachel Priest (wk): 80 games, 29.20avg/77.55sr.
Amy Satterthwaite: 95 games, 37.59avg/74.23sr, 27.58avg/4.43rpo.
Katey Martin: 57 games, 25.93avg/68.98sr.
Sophie Devine: 80 games, 25.40avg/75.52sr, 38avg/4.29rpo.
Katie Perkins: 55 games, 26.24avg/66.97sr.
Anna Peterson: 20 games, 13.69avg/71.20sr, 17.41avg/3.6rpo.
Leigh Kasperek: 9 games, 23.5avg/41.59sr, 17.23avg/3.11rpo.
Erin Bermingham: 31 games, 9.5avg/71.50sr, 22.26avg/3.91rpo.
Holly Huddleston: 18 games, 6avg/33.33sr, 20.32avg/4.41rpo.
Lea Tahuhu: 46 games, 7.57avg/61.68sr, 32.15avg/4.20rpo.
Game one is Saturday night NZT in Bristol against Sri Lanka, followed by Wednesday night vs South Africa. We'll touch base after each game and the major point of intrigue in this opening stanza of the World Cup will be how Tiffen juggles her squad. Tiffen could roll with her strongest team throughout the tournament and the teams she selects now will offer some insight into that as there is no better opportunity to give the younger squad members experience than this first game. Which ever route Tiffen goes down for the Sri Lanka game, expect the White Ferns to be too slick and this should set an epic World Cup in campaign in motion.
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