Former Wairarapa College player Jessie Bennett has been included in the Central Hinds women's cricket squad to prepare for their 2010-11 national Twenty20 and one-day campaigns.
Bennett, who has played for Wellington at age-group levels, is an all-rounder but it is her ability as a medium pace bowler which has seen
her included in a Hinds team which will again be coached by Masterton's Doug Bracewell.
He had a memorable first season in charge last year, with the side winning the two national titles at stake.
Another player in the Hinds squad with Wairarapa connections is top-order batswoman Esther Lanser, who has not long returned from a stint overseas. She lives in Carterton.
An interesting new face is Eimear Richardson, an all-rounder from Ireland who tried out for Victoria in Australia but didn't get the nod from their selectors.
Bracewell labelled her as being "very useful" with bat and ball.
The full Hinds squad is:
Aimee Watkins (Taranaki), Sara McGlashan (Hawke's Bay), Kate Broadmore (Taranaki), Rachel Priest (Taranaki), Esther Lanser (Wairarapa), Aroha Northover (Hawke's Bay), Kelsi Rangi (Hawke's Bay), Michelle Frey (Hawke's Bay), Maneka Singh (Hawke's Bay), Kate Beale (Taranaki), Eimear Richardson (Ireland), Jessie Bennett (Wairarapa) and Melorie Bartosh-Short (Hawke's Bay).
Their national competition draw (two Twenty20 and one one-day match will be played at each venue):
December 10 to 12 : v Otago Sparks in Invercargill.
January 2 to 4: v Northern Spirit in Palmerston North.
January 7 to 9: v Auckland Hearts in Auckland.
January 14 to 16: v Canterbury Magicians in Paraparaumu.
January 21 to 23: v Wellington Blaze in Palmerston North.
