Cricket: Schoolgirls' side inspired by idols

STYLE: Northland representative Olivia Lobb in the nets at Cobham Oval during a coaching clinic with the White Ferns.PHOTO/JOHN STONE

Bold cricketing aspirations are one step closer to reality for Northland Secondary Schools Girls cricket captain Olivia Lobb and her fellow squad members.

The Northland representative team put their prowess on display for several New Zealand White Ferns yesterday at Cobham Oval, as part of a specialised one-off coaching clinic.

The fixture acted as a precursor to the New Zealand side's Twenty20 match against England today.

Although the scorching Whangarei heat engulfed the Cobham Oval training session, it did not deter the Northland girls from strutting their stuff for their idols.

"It's quite inspiring because for me I know that's what I'm aiming for, I want to be a White Fern," said Lobb.

"To see them training and have a chat to them was great. I talked to Suzie Bates [White Ferns captain] about what she does during the games and how she copes with nerves and things like that, which was really helpful."

Despite the hopes of the Northland girls to play at international level, Lobb says the exposure to the high-calibre players was invaluable.

"For a lot of these girls, it's the first time they have ever experienced anything like this," said Lobb, who has also been involved with the Northern Spirit cricket squad.

Her father and current Northland Secondary Schools Girls coach David Lobb is well aware of the opportunities that can unfold from high-level cricketing interactions.

"I think when they watch the White Ferns games they can relate to the individuals and they can see that the level that they are aspiring to is not that far out of reach," he said.

"When they look up to the national team, they think that it's miles away from where they will ever be, but it's achievable.

"Experience like this helps them to realise that."

The White Ferns team also visited St Francis Xavier Catholic School and Hurupaki School to run skills sessions with students, many of whom have already learnt the basics through the ActivePost National Schools Programme.

Schools and clubs across Whangarei have also been invited to attend the Girls Cricket Open Day at Cobham Oval Pavilion today. NZ Post Sponsorship spokesman Malcolm Shaw says the Girls Cricket Open Day will give players involved in cricket at a school or club level, the chance to watch the games for free from the Cobham Oval pavilion.

-Gates open at 11am for today's and tomorrow's Twenty20 matches between New Zealand and England.