An Auckland based businessman of Sri Lankan origin greeted the New Zealand Women’s Cricket team in his home country recently.
Spiceland Managing Director Puvanakumar Sundaramoorthy was propitiously staying in the same hotel as the White Ferns in the Sri Lankan capital on August 5 and invited the team for a brief get-together.
“I was delighted to see our team at the Galadari Hotel in Colombo. The White Ferns were in Sri Lanka for practice matches in preparation for the Women’s World Tweny20 Tournament in September. I invited the players, their Coach and staff for dessert. It was a memorable evening,” he said.
Mr Puvanakumar said that as well as wishing them the best at the World Cup matches, he was pleased to offer them bottles of cashew nut (grown in Sri Lanka and in high demand for its quality throughout the world).
Exciting fixtures
The 17-players squad attended a ten-day camp in Colombo early August and played five practice matches, against Sri Lanka Women, Australia Women and local men’s teams.
According to Coach Gary Stead, the practice matches were invaluable and that they were a good build up for the big event.
“We had two four day camps based at Lincoln with a theme around preparing for Sri Lanka. Experience of the likely conditions is crucial and I hope it will allow our team to be as well prepared as we have ever been,” he said.
The White Ferns will play their first match in the World Twenty20 World Cup against the West Indies on September 26.
They are in Group B for the Tournament alongside West Indies, South Africa and Sri Lanka.
The World Cup team
Following their return from Colombo, New Zealand Cricket announced the 14-member White Ferns Squad for the World Cup.
A notification issued on August 16 said that Suzie Bates will be Captain for the World Cup series in Sri Lanka.
Among the other players are Amy Satterthwaite, Erin Bermingham, Frances Mackay (Canterbury Magicians), Kate Broadmore (Central Hinds), Katey Martin (Otago Sparks), Katie Perkins (Auckland Hearts), Liz Perry, Lucy Doolan (Wellington Blaze), Morna Nielsen, Nicola Browne (Northern Spirit), Sara McGlashan (Central Hinds), Sian Ruck (Wellington Blaze) and Sophie Devine (Wellington Blaze).
National Selection Manager Kim Littlejohn said that the team had experienced players.
“We are pleased to have Nicola Browne back. She was the ‘Player of the Tournament’ in the last ICC World Twenty20 and will inspire the group with her experience and leadership. Sophie Devine also returns to the side, having made a fast return to cricket from her time with New Zealand Hockey. She is a quality all-rounder and we expect that she will play a key role in Sri Lanka,” he said.
Gary said that he was impressed with the preparations.
“The recent warm-up series in Sri Lanka was invaluable and we believe that this is the squad that will make the best use of the conditions we will come across. While some difficult decisions have been made, we are very excited by this group and in particular the return of experienced players,” he said.
