Aotearoa White Ferns vs Australia: Open Minded To A Turn Around
Maybe The Niche Cache has read the whole Aotearoa White Ferns situation completely wrong? Having pondered Bob Carter's borderline horrible coaching record, various players struggling once they enter the White Ferns environment and selections that simply do not reflect the best female cricketers in Aotearoa - I'm open to being completely wrong.
Australia have slid across the ditch for three T20I games and three ODIs. Australia take on a White Ferns team that was easily dealt with by a touring England outfit in both formats. I dove deep into T20I White Ferns woes (0-3 vs England) and an ODI series in which the Ferns did manage a win; in the third and final game after losing the first two.
Being able to drift away from the White Ferns beat, then swing back around has me feeling open and closer to an enlightened perspective. That doesn't quite mean irrational White Ferns optimism though as we have to deal in facts and be realistic in what the White Ferns are doing. Having got caught deep in the mangroves of the White Ferns record in recent years under coach Carter, here's a new twist on their performances...
Overall Record Since Start of 2019
32 games played - 11 wins - 21 losses. 34 % win rate.
ODI Record
15 games - 2 wins - 13 losses. 13 % win rate.
T20I Record
17 games - 9 wins - 8 losses. 52 % win rate.
In NZ Since Start of 2019
ODI: 9 - 2 - 7.
T20I: 10 - 6 - 4.
42 % win rate.
On the back of being out-classed by England, very similar squads have been selected to face Australia. It's not often that losing squads are rolled out again to face what could be a trickier challenge in the Aussies. Let's see how that plays out.
Maybe Lauren Down's return can change the vibe? Having scored 97 and 30 in tour games vs England, Down wasn't selected for the actual series vs England and returned to Hallyburton-Johnstone Shield cricket where she scored three 50+ scores (including a century) in five games.
The 'let's see how that plays out' aspect is important here. Down encapsulates this as she has consistently proven herself as one of the more talented batswomen in Aotearoa, although when stepping up to White Ferns level, Down averaged 7.50 in 11 ODI games. Down could genuinely settle into her international career vs Australia, while also being another example of the White Ferns struggling to get the best out of talented players.
Let's see what positions players are put in. I'm open minded to the White Ferns seeing something in certain players or the gap between domestic and international cricket being so hefty, that the best option is selecting the 'best' players out of position as opposed to promoting players in the same roles. Throughout these recent White Ferns woes, numerous players have been promoted to the White Ferns and put in foreign roles where there is a small chance of success.
Let's see how the White Ferns team culture looks against Australia.
I'm open minded to this, because I'm split down the middle. I know that Sophie Devine and Amy Satterthwaite are lovely leaders who along with the likes of Suzie Bates, Katey Martin and Lea Tahuhu have everything they need to brew a hearty team culture leading to wins.
I also feel sorry for fringe players.
Being deep in wahine domestic cricket, I consistently see the best performers in domestic cricket overlooked and if they are selected, then they get very small roles. None of which feels conducive to a winning team culture and these fringe players may feel some type of way about how they are used in the team. How do all these dynamics - including plenty of losses stacking up - look on the field against the ruthless Aussies?
This series vs Australia is not just a climax of the White Ferns kiwi summer, it's a climax for all White Ferns matters. There was meant to be a Women's World Cup on right now and the White Ferns performances of late aren't exactly a endorsement for the coaching staff with a World Cup now looming next year. The White Ferns captains have consistently changed during this period, while there aren't too many White Ferns who have developed into solid international cricketers.
All of which can be flipped around with a good series vs Australia. I'm open minded to good performances even coming in losses and open minded to a lot of these woes being rectified in this series. Having watched losses stack up and questioned a variety of niggly points, a good series vs Australia could be the moment where World Cup preparations don't look so bad after all.
Peace and love.