Cricket: Keenan appointed White Ferns' coach

Katrina Keenan during her time as a White Ferns play. File photo / Photosport

World Cup-winning White Fern Katrina Keenan has been appointed as the team's new coach, New Zealand Cricket announced today.

The former New Zealand fast bowler recently coached the Auckland Hearts to first and second place respectively in the domestic one-day and Twenty20 competitions.

She has previously been assistant coach of the White Ferns and has also spent four years in Japan coaching the national women's team.

During her playing days Keenan represented the White Ferns in five tests and 54 ODIs, and was an integral member of the Ferns' World Cup-winning side in 2000.

NZC director of cricket John Buchanan said he was delighted a candidate of Keenan's background and experience has been appointed to the role.

"We are very excited that Katrina has accepted this role," he said. "Her impressive record as an international player combined with her coaching success made her the outstanding candidate to coach the White Ferns.

"She brings great qualities to the role, including a genuine passion for women's cricket developed over many years in the game as a player, mentor, and coach."

Keenan said it was a huge honour to be offered the White Ferns coaching role.

"I am incredibly motivated by working in women's cricket and excited by the opportunity to continue the good work of Gary Stead," she said. "The team has some big tours and tournaments ahead and I'm excited by the challenge and determined to work hard with the players to improve the performance of the White Ferns."

Keenan's first assignment will be to prepare the White Ferns for the upcoming Rose Bowl series in Australia before taking the team to next year's women's World Cup in India.