Australians to begin cricket tour today

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33774, 21 February 1975, Page 24

Australians to begin cricket tour today

Lack of familiarity with local pitches is the greatest worry of the Australian women’s cricket team, which will begin its Nets Zealand tour with a limited-over match against Canterbury today.

“Although New Zealand toured Australia in 1972, and the two teams competed against each other in the World Cup series in London in 1973, wt have not been here since 1961,” the team’s manageress (Miss M. Pressley) said yesterlay.

The Australians should, nevertheless, quickly adjust to New Zealand pitches because of their recently gained i knowledge of the very similar I English pitches.

i A very experienced side, including nine players who went to the World Cup and one who played in the international XI. has been brought here, but Miss Pressley was not over-confident about its chances. : “There has always been a I very high standard of 'Women’s cricket in New Zealand and we will not be taking any match lightly,” she said. Australia’s likely opening pair for the limited-over game, and the two-day game I against Canterbury " which ■ follows, are the World Cup representatives, Bev Wilson - and Jackie Potter.

LEADING AVERAGES ' Both were in fine form dur* ing the recent inter-state 'tournament in Sydney and Stopped the batting averages; I Wilson averaged 49 and Potter 48. i “Sharon Tredrea is the fastest bowler, and the captain, Wendy Blunsden, can I bowl both off-spin and legspin, but basically the team ! is very evenly balanced: only one member did not bowl,” ( Miss Pressley said Among the new Australian i representatives in the side I are two players who have i shown much promise recently. The 19-year-old Karen Price is an up-and-coming allI rounder, and Sharyn Fitz- ■ simmons is 20. ; SHIELD RUNNER-UP I “It is a pity that the tours ' between our two countries have been so infrequent in view of their closeness in distance, but we hope to arrange I more matches in the future,” ! Miss Pressley said. i The Canterbury selectors • I have picked two different • teams for the matches, but both are very strong and inI elude all the members of the 1 side which finished second in the Hallyburton-Johnstone Shield tournament last month. Its chances of victory will lift principally with the fastscoring veteran player, Shirley Cowles, who topped the natioal batting averages during the tournament, Jackie Lord, the brilliant New Zealand leg-spinner, and the allrounders, Pat Carrick, the captain, and Sue Rattray.