And a tribute to Great All-Rounder Bruce Taylor
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Wellington, February 10, 2021
Two potential debutantes headline the first While Ferns squad of the 2020-21 season.
Auckland teenager Fran Jonas and Northern Districts’ Brooke Halliday are poised to make their international debuts after being named in a 13-strong White Ferns ODI squad for the upcoming three-match G.J. Gardner Homes ODI series against England Women.
Halliday is the second-highest run scorer in the one-day Hallyburton Johnstone Shield while Jonas is the fourth-highest wicket taker in the competition.
White Ferns Head Coach Bob Carter said that he is looking forward to welcoming the newcomers into the environment.
Exceptional talent
“Brooke and Fran both deserve their call-ups on the back of strong domestic form. Brooke has done a superb job at the top of the order for the Spirit and offers a point of difference as a left-hander. Fran is an exceptional talent and has proven that she can foot it with our top players. It is exciting to add a left-arm spinner to our squad and the balance that offers our bowling attack, “ he said.
Coach Bob said that this is a great chance for them to come in and develop their games.
Auckland Hearts Head Coach Nick White has been working with Jonas for several years now and believes she has the tools to succeed at the next level.
A good beginner
“Fran has continued to impress this season for the Hearts and fully deserves this opportunity. She has a fluent, economical action and excellent work ethic and hence she will relish the chance to work with the White Ferns coaches to continue her development. At 16 years, she is just at the beginning of her cricketing journey and we need to make sure she has the support around her as she embarks on this next step,” he said.
The squad also features the return of Canterbury all-rounder Frankie Mackay after sustaining an Achilles injury against India in 2019.
“Frankie has once again proven her all-round skills in the domestic game and gets another chance at the international level. She is a vastly experienced cricketer and will be an asset with both bat and ball,” Coach White said.
Desire to improve
Carter said that there is also a strong desire within the team to improve on recent ODI performances.
“With the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in New Zealand next year, we want to take this opportunity to build the best possible team for the tournament,” he said.
The White Ferns assemble on Wednesday, February 17, 2021 in Christchurch for a training camp ahead of their first ODI against England at Hagley Oval on February 23, 2021.
Suzie Bates (shoulder) and Rosemary Mair (side strain) were not considered for selection due to injury.
White Ferns ODI Squad: Sophie Devine (c) (Wellington); Natalie Dodd (Central Districts); Maddy Green (Wellington); Brooke Halliday (Uncapped) (Northern Districts); Hayley Jensen (Otago); Fran Jonas (Uncapped) (Auckland); Amelia Kerr (Wellington); Jess Kerr (Wellington); Frankie Mackay (Canterbury); Katey Martin (Wicket Keeper) (Otago); Hannah Rowe (Central Districts); Amy Satterthwaite (Vice Captain) (Canterbury); Lea Tahuhu (Canterbury).
Homage to Bruce Taylor
Bruce Taylor, the New Zealand all-rounder who remains the only player in the world to have scored a century and taken a five-wicket bag on Test debut, passed away in Wellington on February 6, 2021. He was 77 years old.
New Zealand Test Cap No 108, Taylor achieved the remarkable feat in the Second Test against India at Kolkata in 1965, having been drafted into the playing eleven at the last moment to replace Barry Sinclair, who had fallen ill.
Having begun the second day unbeaten on 13, and with his batting partner – Bert Sutcliffe, on 74, Taylor adopted a strategy of all-out attack against the host’s bowling and, by the time Sutcliffe had reached 98, was on 88 himself and closing in on his milestone century.
When he was eventually dismissed for 105, the pair had racked up a record seventh-wicket stand of 163 in 158 minutes.
Class Cricketer
A tall, lean man with long levers, Taylor bowled brisk fast-medium with a high action and was an aggressive batsman, not averse to depositing the ball wide of off-stump high and handsome over the legside.
As an all-rounder he was, on his day, the equal of any other who has played for New Zealand, Sir Richard Hadlee and John R Reid included.
His first two first-class hundreds were both scored in Tests.
At Eden Park in 1969, he made 124 against West Indies (after coming in at 152 for six) which was then the fastest Test 100 for New Zealand in terms of both balls and minutes.
Taylor was at his world-class best on the 1971-72 tour of the West Indies when, in a series dominated by batsmen, he took 27 wickets in four Tests at 17.70, and averaged 38.00 with the bat.
One of his very best innings was a rear-guard in the fifth Test of this series when, with New Zealand teetering at 188 for seven; no hope of winning and almost two hours to go, Taylor (42* in 106m) and Ken Wadsworth (40* in 143m) saved the day and the series.
During that series he also became the first New Zealand bowler to take seven wickets in a Test innings.
Brilliant innings
He went on to play 30 Tests, capturing 111 wickets at 26.60 and scoring 898 runs at 20.41. On his last tour of England, in 1973, he played two ODIs. His highest first-class score was 173 for Wellington against Otago in the summer of 1972-73.
In later years, Taylor was a Selector for Otago, Wellington and New Zealand, and the New Zealand squad for the 1992 ICC World Cup.
-Published under a Special Arrangement with www.rnz.co.nz
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