logo
New Zealand start training in Chennai for Womens World Cup

New Zealand start training in Chennai for Womens World Cup

News18a day ago
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], August 10 (ANI): New Zealand's women's cricket team, the reigning T20 World Cup champions, have begun training in Chennai as they prepare for the upcoming ICC Women's Cricket World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. The team is aiming to win both the T20 and 50-over titles in the same cycle, a rare achievement in the sport, as per the official website of ICC. Ramping up their preparations for the global megaevent, which is to start on September 30, White Ferns head coach Ben Sawyer and assistant coach Craig McMillan are overseeing 10 New Zealand players in the two-week camp being held at the Chennai Super Kings academy in Chennai.'It's currently winter in New Zealand, there's no cricket, and we're nearly two months out of the World Cup," Sawyer discussed the camp's purpose with ESPNcricinfo, as quoted from the official website of ICC.'To have that prep time in India, we've been able to bring seven contracted players and then three of our players of interest along. So, the girls that we think will play lots of cricket in India in the future as well," he added.Among the seven contracted players are seam all-rounder Jess Kerr, young opener Georgia Plimmer and all-rounder Brooke Halliday, whereas Izzy Sharp, Flora Devonshire and Emma McLeod are the emerging players in the mix.Apart from the cricketing aspect, New Zealand are also looking at ways to get their players to adapt to the subcontinental conditions. The management is taking inputs from High Performance Sport New Zealand and Dr. Kirsty Fairbairn, an expert dietitian, who has worked with White Ferns as well as Black Ferns (the women's rugby side of New Zealand).'We've actually tried to train really hard the last five days and I guess in a way not to recover, try to just do it naturally and let your bodies adapt to the conditions," Sawyer discussed New Zealand's plans.'And now we're playing the three games, we'll try and recover really well. But yeah, we've actually tried to expose ourselves as much to the heat as we can," he noted.The camp will feature three one-day games, after which there will be one-dayers against England in Dubai and the warm-ups ahead of the Women's Cricket World Cup (against South Africa and India in Bengaluru), giving New Zealand ample game time in the subcontinental conditions ahead of the event proper.'It's hugely beneficial, and even more so this year because we've had no official matches since February," Sawyer added.'So to get these three one-day games in Chennai, to get two or three games in Dubai against England, a really strong opposition, will be great, and then we also get the two World Cup warm-up games. So that's seven or eight games we're going to get in similar conditions. Yeah, that's just huge for us," he noted.New Zealand begin their campaign against arch-rivals Australia in Indore on October 1. (ANI)
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Springboks move captain Kolisi to No 8 for Australia opener
Springboks move captain Kolisi to No 8 for Australia opener

Hindustan Times

time7 minutes ago

  • Hindustan Times

Springboks move captain Kolisi to No 8 for Australia opener

South Africa captain Siya Kolisi will start at No 8 for the first time in a Test when they begin their Rugby Championship defence in Johannesburg on Saturday against Australia. Springboks move captain Kolisi to No 8 for Australia opener The 34-year-old double Rugby World Cup winner, who makes his 94th Test appearance, is usually to be found on the flank but has operated in the position for his franchise, the Durban-based Sharks. He will do it for the first time for the Boks largely because the other leading contenders are all unavailable. Regular No 8 Jasper Wiese is serving a four-match ban after head-butting a rival in a warm-up victory over Italy last month. Other options Elrigh Louw and Cameron Hanekom suffered serious pre-Springbok season injuries and are unlikely to be available this year. Moving Kolisi means flanker Marco van Staden comes into the starting line-up with reigning World Rugby Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit completing the back row. Manie Libbok gets the nod at fly-half ahead of Handre Pollard and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu with head coach Rassie Erasmus well aware of the record of the Japan-based playmaker. The Springboks have lost only one of 13 Tests when Libbok started the pool defeat by Ireland at the 2023 World Cup in France. But when the 28-year-old came off the bench in seven internationals, record four-time World Cup winners South Africa lost four. Creative Libbok is capable of opening the tightest defences, but doubts remain over his goal kicking, a skill perfected by Pollard. Grant Williams has moved to the front of the queue for the hotly contested scrum-half position and starts with veteran Cobus Reinach providing cover on the bench. Erasmus has opted not to risk star winger Cheslin Kolbe or veteran centre Damian de Allende as both are recovering from niggles. Edwill van der Merwe, who has scored five tries in three Tests, replaces Kolbe on the right wing while Andre Esterhuizen fills in for De Allende at inside centre. "Cheslin has recovered from a niggle and trained with us last week, but we decided to exercise caution and give him extra time at training before selecting him," said Erasmus. "Damian picked up a back niggle and will train this week, but Andre has been strong for us in the last few seasons, so it was an easy decision to name him alongside Jesse ." Australia flew to Johannesburg after a 2-1 series loss to the British and Irish Lions. The Wallabies want to snap a four-match losing streak against South Africa and will name their team on Thursday. Team Aphelele Fassi; Edwill van der Merwe, Jesse Kriel, Andre Esterhuizen, Kurt-Lee Arendse; Manie Libbok, Grant Williams; Siya Kolisi , Pieter-Steph du Toit, Marco van Staden; Lood de Jager, Eben Etzebeth; Wilco Louw, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Franco Mostert, Kwagga Smith, Cobus Reinach, Canan Moodie, Damian Willemse Coach: Rassie Erasmus dl/bsp This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

‘It's Close To All Guns Blazing': David On Australia's Plan Of Quick Scoring In T20Is
‘It's Close To All Guns Blazing': David On Australia's Plan Of Quick Scoring In T20Is

News18

time32 minutes ago

  • News18

‘It's Close To All Guns Blazing': David On Australia's Plan Of Quick Scoring In T20Is

Last Updated: Tim David's blistering 83 helped Australia secure a 17-run win over South Africa in the T20I series opener. Australia leads the series 1-0 After striking a blistering 83 in Australia's 17-run win over South Africa in the T20I series opener, big-hitting batter Tim David said the side's rapid-fire starts in the shortest format are close to their new-found approach of going all guns blazing in the lead-up to next year's T20 World Cup. In the game at Marrara Stadium, Australia smacked 71 runs in the Powerplay, though they lost four wickets. 'It's obviously not the team plan to be four down within six overs, but that happens at times. We've got what we believe is a great calibre of batters in our batting order, and we back each guy to make the right decisions. 'We've been playing together as a group now for a while, so there's not a great deal of instruction from the coaches. They trust the players. We trust ourselves to go out there and we understand the game situation and we make decisions on the fly, because that's the nature of T20 cricket. 'I think if you'd watched our guys bat over the last period, wherever they bat around the world and when they play for the Australian team, it's close to all guns blazing. So, yeah, you can probably expect to see that a little bit from our team. That's how we think we play best," David said on Monday. Australia leads the three-match series 1-0, with the second T20I scheduled for Tuesday in Darwin. David's 83 off 52 balls has now taken his tally to 215 runs in his past three T20I knocks, a sequence that includes a 37-ball century against the West Indies in St Kitts a fortnight ago. 'That's not part of the plan for me. To be honest, the things I've been building towards are the T20 World Cup next year and the major tournaments that are leading up to that. Honestly, I don't operate much further than the next day ahead. But it's a nice problem to have, because if I wasn't scoring any runs, then you wouldn't be asking that question," added David. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

'Want To Break The Barrier': Harmanpreet Kaur On India's Trophy-Less Run In ICC Events
'Want To Break The Barrier': Harmanpreet Kaur On India's Trophy-Less Run In ICC Events

NDTV

time38 minutes ago

  • NDTV

'Want To Break The Barrier': Harmanpreet Kaur On India's Trophy-Less Run In ICC Events

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur on Monday said her team is determined to end its ICC trophy drought during next month's ODI Women's World Cup and the preceding series against title favourites Australia will give the side a clear picture of where it stands. India have never won a world title despite coming close on a few occasions including the 2017 ODI World Cup in England where they finished runners' up to capture the country's imagination. 'We want to break that barrier which all Indians are waiting for. World Cups are always special, always want to do something special for my country. Whenever I see Yuvi bhaiya (Yuvraj Singh) it gives me a lot of motivation,' Harmanpreet said here at the trophy tour unveiling ceremony for the ODI World Cup. Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, former captain Mithali Raj and Harmanpreet's teammates Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues were also part of the function. India go into the Australia series at home, starting September 14, high on confidence after beating England in an away ODI and T20I series. 'Playing against Australia is always challenging and we get to know what our standing is. The series (three ODIs vs Australia) will give us a lot of confidence. We have been putting a lot of effort in our training camps and the results are showing,' said Harmanpreet. Her match-winning 171 in the semifinal against Australia back in 2017 remains fresh in Harmanpreet's mind. 'That knock was something really special to me and the entire women's cricket. A lot of things changed for me after that knock. When we came back to India, even though we had lost, a lot of people were waiting and cheering for us. I still get goosebumps,' she added. Yuvraj said players will have to individually believe that they can win matches for the country. '(I would say) play the situation and not the expectation and be in the moment,' he said. 'It's a great opportunity to create history. But that doesn't mean that from the start point you are thinking of winning it. You have to experience the whole enigma of it. You have to feel that you have put in the process and results will come.' The multiple World Cup-winner advised the players to keep faith in their experience. 'But if you want to win the World Cup, you will be in pressure, things won't go well and that's when experience and self-belief has to take over. You have to believe that you want to win the game for your country (on) that day,' added Yuvraj, India's player of the tournament in the 2011 World Cup. Both Rodrigues and Mandhana noted that there has been a significant change in the team's attitude when it comes to preparations. 'A lot has changed with my preparation and mindset. I want to have a lot of confidence coming from my preparation and that gives me clarity,' said Rodrigues. Mandhana said, 'Our whole team is heading into the direction where we know we have to put in a lot of hard work off the field and when we go on it, it's a reaction. That's been a massive change for the team as well as personally,' Mithali said the 2017 World Cup was the turning point for women's cricket. 'The 2017 World Cup actually transformed women's cricket not just in India but globally I would say, because social media was relatively new (and) the ICC did their part in promoting and campaigning on a larger scale,' she said. The ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta said this World Cup, starting on September 30, could be the springboard for the next leap for women's cricket. 'There is a larger picture here which has to do with what this means to the country. The growth of women's cricket in many ways is a reflection of the country's progress,' said Gupta. 'It normalises women occupying spaces which were traditionally occupied by men. It normalises women being outdoors. It also creates an opportunity for both men and women to come out and support Team India, not just the men in blue but the women in blue.' Gupta continued, 'In every sense, the growth of women's cricket over the last eight years has brought up to this moment where it is time for women's cricket to take the next leap. This World Cup can be the springboard for that next leap.' PTI DDV BS PM UNG

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store