Hopes high among women cricketers

Press, 24 December 1986, Page 20

Hopes high among women cricketers

By

MARGARET FRANCIS

Saturday is D-day for the Canterbury women’s cricket team as it starts its campaign in Palmerston North to win the Hansell’s Cup for the ninth successive time. This year it faces an uphill battle with the loss of two of its best players — Sue Brown, last year’s leading wicket-taker, and Lesley Murdoch, the leading run-scorer, are both taking a break. However, in spite of this Canterbury still has a very strong line-up, certainly one capable of retaining the title.

Of the five internationals in its ranks, two — Ann McKenna and Nicki Turner — will open the batting. These two complement each other well, Turner being the aggressor and McKenna the resolute defender. Both run well between wickets.

The success of this partnership is crucial to the team’s performance. A solid opening base will set up the other players. Batting at No. 3 will be the youthful Kirsty Bond, who has a sound technique and exciting potential. In the middle order, Debbie Ford, Vicki Burtt, Trudy Anderson, Brigit Legg, Catherine Campbell and Sarah Illingworth are all very capable players who should ensure Canterbury some large totals. The team really has no tail as the remainder also bat competently. Opening the bowling will be the pacy Brigit Legg and Karen Gunn. Gunn has had an amazing club season so far, taking 35 wickets at a cost of just over four and Rebecca Millichip is another opening alternative.

For into the wind duties, Kirsty Bond and Delwyn Costello are both very accurate.

The team has an excellent off-spinner in Catherine Campbell, while Debbie Ford’s leg spin can provide some variation. Behind the stumps Sarah Hlingworth is tidy and efficient

One great advantage that Canterbury should have over other teams is the preparation that it has done. The team has one of the country’s finest coaches in Dayle Hadlee, who has the utmost faith in the side.

As well as refining the batting and bowling skills, Hadlee’s training programme will ensure that the team is in top physical fitness at the tournament, which should lead to a high standard of fielding. In this respect the team has some brilliant fielders, such as Debbie Ford, Brigit Legg, Karen Gunn and Kirsty Bond. Under Hadlee’s guidance the team has developed a very enthusiastic attitude, a strong team spirit and a tremendous pride in its performance.

The loss of Brown and Murdoch simply means everyone must contribute that little bit extra.

The proven motivator, Graeme Felton, has also made a big impression on the players, emphasising the importance of a positive approach to everything. Canterbury will be out not to defend a title, but to win one.

The main opposition for Canterbury will come from North Shore, a team with nine internationals.

Last year’s tournament showed, however, that strength on paper is not enough as Canterbury cruised to a 23-point win, although the balance of power seemed to lie with

this northern side. Another side to fancy its chances is Central Districts, which has some talented players in Jackie Clark, Penny Kinsella, Mary Connell and Liz Signal, but it does not have great depth. Southern Districts, with its strong Canterbury flavour, is hoping to improve on last year’s placing. The coach, Malcolm Rickerby, said the team is aiming for third. He is delighted with the way the side is shaping up. The openers, Toni Watts and Carol Fleming, can usually be relied on to see the shine off the ball. At No. 3 the captain, Vivienne Cowles, has been in fine club form and there have been some useful innings from Jayne Beattie, Kay Wickes and Andrea Devine.

Among the bowlers Tracey McNamara has shown pace and purpose this season and will receive good support from Jenny Turner, Barbara Carr and Katherine Ryan. The wicketkeeper, Beattie, is also in good form. This is a young promising side whose players have nothing to lose. Others in the competition are Auckland, which has a very good bowling attack, but could struggle for runs, and Wellington, which will rely heavily on its imports, Nancy Williams and Ingrid van Elst.

As always, the tournament promises a very engrossing 10 days of cricket.

The Canterbury captain, Ann McKenna, is confident of success. “The team can win,” she said, “it’s just a matter of putting it together at the right time.”