Cricket: Left-armer makes the right choice

By SUZANNE McFADDEN

Teenager Erin McDonald agonised over picking a cricket ball instead of a hockey stick, but yesterday she was rewarded for her choice.

The left-arm spin bowler was chosen as a new cap in the White Ferns to play in the women's World Cup in New Zealand this month.

McDonald reached a crossroads two years ago when she was selected for a trial for the New Zealand under-18 hockey team.

"The trials clashed with a national championship cricket match - so I chose to go to cricket," the 19-year-old said. "Once I made that decision, that was it. I was out of the hockey system. But I know now it was the right choice."

McDonald, whose style has been compared to the Black Caps Daniel Vettori, is one of two new caps in the White Ferns.

Her Central Districts team-mate, 22-year-old Emily Travers, has been added as a second wicketkeeper.

The squad will play three one-dayers against England in the prelude to the cup.

Auckland offspinner Clare Nicholson is back in the side after an 18-month hiatus waiting for her shoulder to recover from surgery.

McDonald has not given up on a childhood dream to become a double international. She still plays hockey and was in the High School club side in Christchurch who won the Southern Hockey League this year.

White Ferns selector Lesley Murdoch knows all about McDonald's double talents.

"I was called out of retirement to play hockey against her team, and she slipped two goals past me," said Murdoch, a former New Zealand hockey goalkeeper and cricket wicketkeeper.

"She is a very talented athlete. It's great to have a left-arm spinner to vary our attack - it's a bit of a rarity in international cricket and it could catch some teams off guard."

McDonald grew up in Hawkes Bay, but moved to Christchurch this year to study engineering at Canterbury University.

Today she has to sit an exam. "But I think I'll write it off - I've got some celebrating to do."

She is flattered by the comparison with Vettori, made by former New Zealand spin bowler Dipak Patel, who now coaches the Central Districts men's side.

"After the trials at the weekend, I tried not to get my hopes up," she said. "There's so much experience in this team, I didn't know if there would be room for me." McDonald thrives on encouragement from team-mate Debbie Hockley, the only woman cricketer to play more than 100 tests. Hockley was playing for New Zealand when McDonald was at primary school.

The Emily Drumm-captained side will play their opening match of the World Cup against favourites Australia in Christchurch on November 29.

The Australians have won four of the five World Cups, so Murdoch says the team are under no illusions. "They are an incredible side, but skill-wise we definitely have the ability to beat them."

* White Ferns: Emily Drumm, Clare Nicholson, Kathryn Ramel, Rebecca Rolls (Auckland), Erin McDonald, Kate Pulford, Emily Travers (Central Districts), Anna O'Leary (Wellington), Catherine Campbell, Paula Flannery, Debbie Hockley, Katrina Keenan, Haidee Tiffen, Helen Watson (Canterbury), Rachel Pullar (Otago).