New cricket cap loves sport

Press, 9 November 1988, Page 34

New cricket cap loves sport

By

MARG FRANCIS

Debbie Ford, a newcomer to the New Zealand women’s cricket team which will play in the World Cup tournament on Australian pitches from late this month, is a self-con-fessed sports enthusiast. Appropriately, Ford works in a sports store. At home, her bedroom wall is covered in sports photographs, particularly of cricket and rugby. One corner is devoted to Canterbury women’s cricket, another to international cricketers — and now there is “Smith’s corner,” featuring Wayne Smith’s Ranfurly Shield-winning try among other rugby shots. In addition to numerous books, Ford’s collection of sports memorabilia includes such gems as All Black socks, a Garfield Sobers autographed bat, Bob Willis’s jersey, Richard Hadlee’s shirt and Dayle Hadlee’s cap. For statistical references, she is armed with the bumper edition of “Men in White.” Not only does Ford have an intensive training programme for cricket, but she finds time to play indoor cricket — also at a national level — soccer, touch sevens, and rugby and has run a couple of half-marathons. As a member of the World Cup training squad, Ford attended the

Institute of Sport three times a week and ran almost every day. A granddaughter of the renowned former Lancaster Park groundsman, Cyril Barnes, Ford as a youngster often helped in such duties as cleaning up the grandstands, rolling pitches, driving the tractor and working the score- board. Her love of cricket grew from those early experiences. After an initiation in primary school matches for two summers, Ford graduated to afternoon grades and was only 15 years of age when she made her senior debut for Lancaster Park. She now plays for Riccarton. Ford, a top-order, lefthanded batsman, last season topped the Canterbury inter-club averages with 683 runs at 63.07. In the previous two seasons she headed the aggregates by exceeding 500 runs each time. One unfulfilled ambition is to make a club century; she went tantalisingly close last year when she was run out for 99. Although just a parttime bowler, Ford still manages to fill a prominent place in the averages. Completing her allround skills, Ford has accepted some remarkable catches and excels as a cover fieldsman. Ford acknowledges her

progress in the sport has been accelerated by some very good coaches, Ethna Rouse, Kevin Keys and Cyril Barnes in her formative years and, more recently, Dayle Hadlee. Selection for the Canterbury team first came Ford’s way in 1985-86, at the national tournament in Christchurch. Before that she had twice represented Southern Districts. At provincial level, last season was her most successful, her average of 36.50 placing her third — included was an unbeaten 89 against Southern Districts. Promotion to the World Cup team realises an ambition Ford has held for some years, and is a just reward for her fine batting and hard work. In 1985 Ford’s close friend, Karen Gunn, was named to tour Australia and India. It was Gunn who suggested that Ford should set herself the goal of making the World Cup side and with that aim in mind the two have trained diligently together. Ford, a modest, affable and dedicated sportswoman, will undoubtedly acquit herself well in international competition, adding yet another dimension to her already busy sporting life.