KEY POINTS:
Recapturing the Rose Bowl women's cricket trophy from Australia would be good but getting his whole squad into form for the World Cup soon is equally important, New Zealand coach Gary Stead says.
The White Ferns host the Australian Southern Stars from tomorrow to February 12 in the five-match Rose Bowl one-day series as a prelude to the World Cup from March 7-22 in Australia.
Stead is eager to see how the team, playing their first series since he took charge last July, have progressed.
"It is an exciting time, this build-up to the World Cup in March," said Stead ahead of the first match at Whangarei.
"We want to give every player in the squad opportunities to shine in the Rose Bowl so that we, hopefully, have 14 people vying for positions instead of 11."
Stead said the team wanted to win the series "but equally the big prize is the World Cup so we will be giving our players an opportunity to shine and give them a chance to play in the big games at the World Cup as well.
"It is not rotation - it is more ensuring we have 14 players that are in form, and also at times, people will need rest as it is a congested period we will be in."
New Zealand last won the Rose Bowl in 1999 but appear to be closing the gap, having made the world champions battle to win the last two series by 3-2 margins.
Stead, a Canterbury stalwart who played five tests for New Zealand in 1999, said his programme had been aimed at improving "situational awareness and how the players can react to that", and working with players on a one-on-one basis to improve skills.
Experience from the last World Cup sees skipper Haidee Tiffin, Aimee Mason, Sara McGlashan and Nicola Browne form the bedrock of the team.
There is only one new player in the squad but Stead points out that Central Districts medium pace bowler Abby Burrows, who celebrated her 31st birthday on Thursday, is "a bit older than what you might expect from a debutant". Kate Pulford has earned a recall after last wearing the national colours in 2003. The allrounder has been in outstanding form for Northern Districts this season, with a high score of 96 and a strike rate of 87.
"Kate's a strong hitter of the ball and a versatile bowler - she has the potential to be a match-winner for us," Stead said.
The side also sees the return of Otago all-rounder Suzie Bates, who missed the last Rose Bowl series while preparing for the Beijing Olympics with the New Zealand basketball team.
Stead said his team are stacked with allrounders, raising the danger they do not focus on one skill enough.
"But I am confident the players picked are the best [batsmen and bowlers] in New Zealand anyway.
"I think we got a good balance of strike bowlers [Sophie Devine and Browne] at the top, some to do the stock role [Burrows, Beth McNeil and Amy Satterthwaite] and some exciting spinners [Mason and Lucy Doolan] as well."
Australia, powered by batsmen Karen Rolton, Alex Blackwell and Lisa Sthalekar and bowlers Shelley Nitschke, Emma Sampson and Elise Perry will be tough and competitive.
"But we are a new team with new management and new systems in place and hopefully we can play with some confidence right from the start."
Rose Bowl:
Tomorrow: Cobham Oval, Whangarei
Tuesday: Cobham Oval, Whangarei
Friday: Seddon Park, Hamilton
February 8: Seddon Park, Hamilton
February 12: Basin Reserve, Wellington
New Zealand: Haidee Tiffen (captain), Aimee Mason (vice captain), Suzie Bates, Nic Browne, Abby Burrows, Sophie Devine, Lucy Doolan, Sara McGlashan, Beth McNeill, Katey Martin, Rachel Priest, Kate Pulford, Amy Satterthwaite, Sarah Tsukigawa.
Australia: Karen Rolton (captain), Alex Blackwell (vice-captain), Sarah Andrews, Jessica Cameron, Leonie Coleman, Lauren Ebsary, Rene Farrell, Jodie Fields, Delissa Kimmince, Shelley Nitschke, Erin Osborne, Ellyse Perry, Leah Poulton, Emma Sampson, Lisa Sthalekar.
- NZPA
