HAMISH BIDWELL
There are no itchy feet for Donna Trow, as she prepares to lead her first Hawke's Bay team into competition.
Despite returning to the playing field with Napier Technical Old Boys, following the birth of son Connor, Trow's retirement from representative cricket stands. Instead it will be the coach's clipboard she'll be armed with, rather than a ball, when Hawke's Bay play Taranaki in Palmerston North tomorrow.
"It's great to be back involved but my time (as a player) is definitely over and I'm quite happy and content with that," Trow told SportToday.
She has named two new caps in her XI for tomorrow, in the Best United Travel Havelock North duo of Olivia Gregory and Sanika Rangnekar. With Abby Burrows not available this week, her Central Districts Hinds and GJ Gardner Homes Napier Old Boys' Marist teammate, Rachel Priest, will captain the side for this match against Taranaki and the following ones against Wellington and Manawatu.
Recently returned from the White Ferns' tours of Australia and England, Trow says Priest will fulfil the role admirably.
"Rachel's always been a good player, who was head-strong and knew their game but she's come back with an even more professional attitude. She knows a lot more know about what it takes to be a good player, in terms of preparation and things like that, and she's very good at what she does on a cricket field," Trow said.
With Hinds players like Priest and the two Kellys, Winkley and Tunnicliffe, there is experience in this Bay side. The challenge for Trow is to marry that with the rawness of the youngsters.
"We have got a real mixture, but I always played to win as a player and it will be the same as a coach. There is an element of trying to develop the younger players but I don't think you achieve that by not going out to win.
"If you look at the New Zealand women's team and the Hinds, they pick players young, so players need to learn that they need to be competitive right from the start of their careers."
CRICKET: Trow faces first test as Bay coach
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