England and New Zealand ready for final showdown

Kiwis have noses ahead after winning 29 out of 49 matches to date; Haidee Tiffen aims to win her second World Cup while rival captain Charlotte Edwards searches for her first title

Belinda Clark heads selection panel which will decide player of the tournament and ICC Team of the Tournament

Photos from the training sessions of the two teams and captains’ photo with the trophy available for free download from the ICC FTP site

Former champions England and New Zealand will try to add another title to its collection when they square-off in the final of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2009 in front of the ESPN STAR Sports cameras at North Sydney Oval, Sydney.

England has won the World Cup twice – the inaugural tournament in 1973 on its home turf and then in 1993 when it defeated New Zealand in the final by 67 runs – while New Zealand’s only success has come in 2000 in its backyard when it beat Australia in a dramatic final by four runs.


The two teams have previously met 49 times with New Zealand winning 29 matches and England 18. Their first match against each other in the 1982 World Cup ended in a tie after both the sides finished on 147 at Auckland while one match was abandoned.

The two sides have qualified for the much-awaited final after finishing in the top two of the Super Six stage. After winning their respective groups, both the sides lost one match each in the Super Six stage – England defeating New Zealand by 31 runs last week before losing to Australia by eight wickets on Thursday.

The two teams have showed a lot of flare, aggression, method and purpose behind their performances in the last couple of weeks which is evident from their convincing victories. New Zealand defeated defending champion Australia by 13 runs (D/L Method), West Indies by 56 runs, South Africa by 199 runs, India by five wickets and Pakistan by 223 runs while England also beat Sri Lanka by 100 runs, India by nine wickets, Pakistan by eight wickets and the West Indies by 146 runs.

The players of the two sides are also peaking at the right time with New Zealand’s Suzie Bates clobbering 19 fours and six sixes in a 105-ball 168 against Pakistan on Thursday. She is the second leading run-getter in the tournament after England’s Claire Taylor who has scored 303 runs to date, including a century against Sri Lanka and an unbeaten 69 against India.

Other in-form New Zealand batters include captain Haidee Tiffen, who has scored 249 runs, Amy Satterthwaite (162) and Sara McGlashan (153) while for England openers Caroline Atkins (211) and Sarah Taylor (177) have shown remarkable consistency at the top of the order while captain Charlotte Edwards, ICC’s Women’s Player of the Year in 2008, has yet to find her magical touch despite scoring 127 runs.

England’s Laura Marsh has undoubtedly been the find of the tournament. The 22-year-old off-spinner from Kent has taken 14 wickets so far at an average of 9.28 while New Zealand vice-captain Aimee Mason is her side’s most successful bowler with nine wickets at an average of 14.33.

The two sides had their final workouts on Saturday morning ahead of Sunday’s final and both the captains were confident and excited in their pre-match press conferences.

Haidee Tiffen said: “We are really excited about tomorrow’s game and have been working extremely hard over the last couple of weeks. At the same time, we have been improving on our overall performance on the way.”

“We have been learning as we went along and we have made sure we have given our players plenty of opportunity. That game against Pakistan was great as we got a good hit out.”

Tiffen, who has scored 2,889 runs in 116 ODIs and will equal Maia Lewis’ record of captaining New Zealand in most ODIs (45) on Sunday, said her team would not only depend on Bates. “Against Pakistan, Suzie batted the best I have ever seen of her. She is an outstanding player for us but there were some other good performances on that day and all through the tournament.

“Look, you will be nervous if you are not nervous. There will be some nerves around - that is a positive thing. But it’s all about how you channelize those nerves.”

Haidee, who was also a member of the New Zealand side that won the title in 2000, refused to be drawn into comparing the present side with Emily Drumm’s side. “The memories of the 2000 World Cup are very close to my heart. It is certainly the highlight of my career. Whilst the teams are different, certainly the passion, commitment and pride for our country are evident in both the teams. We are looking forward to (Sunday’s) occasion and the girls have been doing very well.”

In sharp contrast, Charlotte Edwards has been in the three previous semi-finals but will be making her first appearance in the final. She is not only her country’s most experienced player with 123 caps, she is also the most successful batter with 3,647 runs.

Edwards said Sunday’s match would be the biggest match of her career. “I have played in a lot of big games but never in a World Cup final. I am looking forward to tomorrow which will be the biggest game of my career. The World Cup comes only after four years and I think I am lucky to be in the final after three semi-finals,” she said.

“Hopefully, Claire Taylor’s and my experience will see the girls through tomorrow. The good thing about our team is we have youngsters and all they know is success at the moment. It is a good mixture of youth and experience and we have been telling the youngsters to just enjoy the day as not many people play in a World Cup final.

“Yesterday was quite a long day, having a day off. But yes, there is excitement today and we are just ready to play cricket. This is something we have worked towards for a number of years now and we can’t wait for tomorrow to happen and get underway.

“Tomorrow’s match will be all about which team handles the pressure better and whose key players perform. These are two very good and evenly matched teams and the team that plays best cricket on Sunday will win the match.

“On Thursday (against Australia), there was a minor blip but we have been playing good cricket. We have a lot of confidence and are going along nicely.”

Match referee Brian Aldridge will lead the playing control team on Sunday. Steve Davis of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires and Brian Jerling of the International Panel will be the on-field umpires while Tyron Wijewardena has been named as third umpire and Jeff Brookes will be the fourth umpire.

The player of the tournament will be announced on Sunday while the ICC Team of the Tournament will be named on Monday by a five-member selection panel that includes Belinda Clark, Brian Aldridge, Danny Morrison, Kathy Cross and Allison Mitchell.

Squads: 

New Zealand – Haidee Tiffen (captain), Aimee Mason (vice-captain), Suzie Bates, Nicola Browne, Abby Burrows, Sophie Devine, Lucy Doolan, Sara McGlashan, Beth McNeill, Katey Martin, Rachel Priest, Kate Pulford, Amy Satterthwaite, Sarah Tsukigawa.

England – Charlotte Edwards (captain), Caroline Atkins, Katherine Brunt, Holly Colvin, Lydia Greenway, Lauren Griffiths, Isa Guha, Jenny Gunn, Laura Marsh, Beth Morgan, Ebony Rainsford-Brent, Nicola Shaw, Anya Shrubsole, Claire Taylor, Sarah Taylor.

Match referee: Brian Aldridge

Umpires: Steve Davis and Brian Jerling

Third umpire: Tyron Wijewardena

Fourth umpire: Jeff Brookes

ICC Women's World Cup 2009  News- Saturday, March 21, 2009 4:22:56 AM

Pulford puts New Zealand a step closer to big day

A brilliant all-round performance from Kate Pulford helped New Zealand take a step closer to the ICC Women’s World Cup Final.

Two wickets and a sparkling 71 from 88 balls helped her side to a five-wicket win over India with 14 balls to spare and the Player of the Match Award.

Earlier half centuries from Reema Malhotra (59) and Anjum Chopra (52) rescued India’s innings as it posted a total of 207 all out of 49.4 overs.

Having been 83-4 and 126-6 this represented a solid recovery, in a keenly contested battle between two of the event favourites.

Sophie Devine and Kate Pulford both took two wickets, but Reema Malhotra’s powerful hitting transformed the innings as she struck eight boundaries in her 53-ball innings.

Pulford (71) and Tiffen (28) provided a solid opening partnership of 78, before Pulford finally fell when the score was 109.

A regular fall of wickets provided India with hope, but an excellent innings from Suzie Bates (47 not out) and Aimee Mason (23 off 16 balls) helped it comfortably reach its target.

New Zealand now faces Pakistan on Thursday knowing a win will guarantee its place in the ICC Women's World Cup Final. 

ICC Women's World Cup 2009  News -Tuesday, March 17, 2009 2:30:00 AM

New Zealand maintains unbeaten record

New Zealand was made to work hard by West Indies as it recorded a 56-run victory to maintain its unbeaten record at the ICC Women’s World Cup.

Without skipper Haidee Tiffen and Kate Pulford, star of Sunday’s victory over Australia, New Zealand struggled early on after deciding to bat first at the Bankstown Oval and was reduced to 48-3.

When 17-year-old Stafanie Taylor (2-33) dismissed Nicola Browne, the White Ferns looked in all kinds of trouble, but some solid late-order batting from Aimee Mason (38) and Sarah Tsukigawa (41 not out) helped New Zealand up to 192-8 off 50 overs.

Despite losing opener Deandra Dottin to a first-ball duck, a 61-run partnership between Stafanie Taylor (38) and Pamela Lavine (40) put it on track for victory.

But after Taylor fell to the spin bowling of Aimee Mason, stand-in skipper and the pick of the New Zealand attack with figures of 3-26, the momentum of the game changed despite the contribution of Pamela Lavine, the cousin of West Indian legend Gordon Greenidge.

When Afy Fletcher (12) was finally dismissed, after another disappointing innings, it sparked a dramatic batting collapse and in the end the West Indies fell well short of its target, reaching 136-8 off 50 overs, as Lucy Doolan (3-21) bowled an excellent spell.

ICC Women's World Cup 2009 - News  Tuesday, March 10, 2009 2:06:08 AM

Three-wicket hero believes more is still to come

New Zealand star Kate Pulford has revealed her delight following her performance in Sunday’s win over Australia at the ICC Women’s World Cup.

Her three wickets, including the dismissals of Shelley Nitschke, Karen Rolton and Lisa Sthalekar, set her side on the way to victory by 13 runs (D/L method) at North Sydney Oval, but the 28-year-old still believes she can bowl better.

“It is the best results I have ever had, but I think I can bowl better than that, as there are lot of balls that I would not bowl again, probably including Rolton’s six over my head,” said Pulford, speaking from her hotel in Sydney on Monday.

“With the top batters, it is important to get the ball in the right areas consistently and it worked for me.

“The ball following Rolton’s six was a bouncer and she acknowledged that it was a good ball and it brings out the extra fire in the belly. It is special when you can get on top of somebody of that calibre.”

Pulford, recalled to the national team in February after a six-year absence, admits that she thought only months ago that she had no chance of making selection for this tournament and that she owes her opportunity to Gary Stead, the New Zealand coach.

“Up until December last year I had no thoughts of playing this World Cup at all. Not because I didn’t want to but because I had been out of the frame for so long and perhaps there was a reason, which I didn’t know about, which explained why I wasn’t being picked,” said Pulford.

“I did have an inkling when there was a change in coach that there might be a chance as Gary Stead approached me after the first round of our state league about my availability and that gave me a slight window of hope.

“I am so glad to be back in the team environment as I love playing for New Zealand.”

Pulford, who works as a strategic business analyst, believes that her absence from the international side has made her appreciate the opportunity to play for the national team.

“I appreciate it more for myself as it is just as special as when I made my debut ten years ago. It has given me a bit of perspective being able to focus on my career outside of cricket and life outside of cricket and having that extra bit of life experience and knowing what it is like to fail.”

With the West Indies, who enjoyed an exciting two-wicket win over South Africa on Sunday, the next match for the White Ferns in a busy tournament schedule, Pulford believes that Tuesday’s match will be a tough clash.

 “We are taking each game as it comes and we will respect all our opposition as the West Indies are deservedly in the top eight in the world and we are not going to take them lightly,” she said.

ICC Women's World Cup 2009 - News   Monday, March 09, 2009 12:01:08 AM

New Zealand upsets defending champion as West Indies takes giant step forward by defeating South Africa

Kate Pulford and Stafanie Taylor win player-of-the-match awards

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat joins teams, spectators and officials at NSO to observe a minute’s silence out of respect for those people killed or injured during Tuesday’s terrorist attack in Lahore

Photos from the NSO match available through Getty Images; images from Newcastle match available free of charge from the ICC FTP site

 
New Zealand overcame batting hiccups to upset defending champion Australia in a crucial ICC Women’s World Cup 2009 match in front of ESPN STAR Sports’ live TV cameras and 1,350 spectators at the picturesque North Sydney Oval on Sunday.

New Zealand, put into bat, was bowled out for 205 in 48 overs after being 171-3 in 40 overs with a batting PowerPlay in hand. The Kiwis then fought back gallantly to restrict Australia to 132-6 before the match was abandoned due to bad light and light showers to win the match by 13 runs, according to the Duckworth-Lewis method.

The victory has enhanced New Zealand’s chances of topping Group A with matches still to come against the West Indies and South Africa. As favourite to win both those games, it may well take four carry-over points in the Super Six stage which will boost its chances of making the 22 March final.

In another match, at Newcastle, the West Indies defeated South Africa by two wickets with eight balls to spare in a hard-fought match. With this victory, West Indies has all but sealed a place in the Super Six stage as both the teams will have matches against Australia and New Zealand. By contrast, South Africa, if it finishes at the bottom of the table from Group A, will be left to play in the seventh/eighth-place play-off against the bottom-placed team from Group B on 14 March.

Seventeen-year-old Stafanie Taylor was the star for the West Indies when she recorded impressive figures of 8.2-2-17-4 as South Africa, which elected to bat first after winning the toss, was bowled out for 116 in 45.2 overs after losing its last seven wickets for 22 runs.

Only opener Alicia Smith offered any significant resistance while scoring 46 that came off 109 balls and included four fours. She was the fourth batter out at the score of 94 in the 38th over.

The West Indies, in its turn at the wicket, made hard work of that target before achieving victory with two wickets and eight balls to spare.

The West Indies made a shaky start when it lost both the openers at the score of 16 but recovered through a 45-run third-wicket stand between Shanel Daley (26) and Stacy-Ann King (13). However, Afy Fletcher (nine off 70 balls) and Cordel Jack (19 runs off 52 balls) batted slowly and almost snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

West Indies captain Merissa Aguilleira was relieved and happy with the victory. “We are very happy and all the girls worked hard for this. We knew what we had to do and we came out and did it.

“We knew we could take our time (getting the runs), the girls didn't rush anything. Even though it took a long time at the end of the day we came away with the win.”

Player-of-the-match Stafanie Taylor said: “Yeah, I'm very pleased with my performance and happy with the win. We were very confident (in reaching the target), but while chasing small totals anything could happen.

“It was a pretty good wicket for batting, we would have liked to bat first but we came away with the win. There was a bit in it (the pitch) for the pace bowlers, the spinners didn't get much turn - I didn't get as much turn as I would have liked."

South Africa captain Sunette Loubser was disappointed with her team’s batting display. She said: “A little bit (disappointed) is not the word for it at the moment. We made a meal of the batting today. I think the bowlers did really well to almost defend that score. Our batting disappointed us a lot as we lost six wickets for 22 runs right at the end.

“No one’s to blame. It’s the whole team thing but we just need to score more runs to be able to defend it. The girls showed a lot of heart and passion to almost defend it like they did. They never gave up and I'm proud of that fact.”

However, the Australia and New Zealand game was the feature match of the day. It started with ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat joining the players, match officials and spectators in observing a minute’s silence out of respect for those people killed or injured during Tuesday’s terrorist attack on the convoy containing the Sri Lanka squad and the match officials.

Put into bat, New Zealand squandered a good start to score only 205 all out in 48 overs. 


Captain Haidee Tiffen provided her team with the platform on which New Zealand should have built on but some poor stroke-play and a tactical error led to the team to lose its last seven wickets for only 36 runs off eight overs. 

While the Australia team took its PowerPlay between 11 and 15 overs in which New Zealand scored 29 runs and lost one wicket, New Zealand delayed its batting PowerPlay until the 46th over and could use only three overs in which it scored 24 runs, including 14 off the 48th over bowled by Ellyse Perry, and lost both the remaining wickets. 

Tiffen finished as the leading scorer with a well played 57 off 113 balls with six fours. She received good support from Suzie Bates (29), Amy Satterthwaite (38) with whom she added 67 runs for the third wicket, and Sara McGlashan (29), with whom she put on 62 runs for the fourth wicket. 

Perry was the pick of Australia's bowlers with 3-40 despite dislocating the little finger of her right hand while Lisa Sthalekar and Erin Osborne bagged two wickets each. 

Australia, in its target chase, never got to the take-off point and kept losing wickets at regular intervals before rain and bad light stopped play with the home team requiring 74 runs off 112 balls with four wickets remaining. 

Kate Pulford caused maximum damage when he claimed 3-32 while new-ball opener Sophie Devine picked up 2-19. Pulford was later declared player of the match. 

Reflecting on today’s performance Tiffen said: “I am delighted with the victory over the world’s number-one team but I think we should have scored around 240 or 250. Losing seven wickets for 36 runs is not our standard and we certainly need to look at this area and try to not only bat all 50 overs but need to convert good starts into big scores. 

“Just before I got out, we were going to take our PowerPlay. In hindsight, we should have taken our PowerPlay before that over. With losing all those wickets, it certainly was not the plan to take it so late. But it is certainly a thing which we will look at and try to get it right next time.” 
Scores in brief:

At North Sydney Oval, Sydney, New Zealand 205 all out, 48 overs (Haidee Tiffen 57, Amy Satterthwaite 38, Sara McGlashan 29, Suzie Bates 29; Ellyse Perry 3-40, Lisa Sthalekar 2-35, Erin Osborne 2-37) 

Australia 132-6, 33 overs (Shelley Nitschke 27, Jodie Fields 26 not out, Karen Rolton 21; Kate Pulford 3-32, Sophie Devine 2-19)

New Zealand won by 13 runs (D/L method) 

At No 1 Sports Ground, Newcastle, South Africa 116 all out, 45.2 overs (Alicia Smith 46; Stafanie Taylor 4-17)

West Indies 117-8, 48.4 overs (Shanel Daley 26) 
West Indies won by two wickets 
 
Monday’s fixture: 

Sri Lanka v Pakistan, Manuka Oval, Canberra

ICC Women's World Cup 2009 - News  Sunday, March 08, 2009 6:44:31 AM

Pulford bowls New Zealand to victory

New Zealand got its campaign to the ICC Women’s World Cup off to a brilliant start with a fantastic 13-run (D/L method) win over Australia.

Player-of-the-Match Kate Pulford inspired the victory with a brilliant spell of bowling, taking 3-32, including the prized wickets of Shelley Nitschke, Karen Rolton and Lisa Sthalekar, with an accurate and aggressive spell.

But Australia will feel disappointed that rain denied it the opportunity to chase its target, after a 32-run partnership between Jodie Fields (26 not out) and Ellyse Perry (17 not out) brought it back into the game, although 74 runs off 17 overs was still needed for victory when heavy rain fell and ended the match.

After being put into bat by the home team, New Zealand lost an early wicket when Kate Pulford was brilliantly run out by a direct hit from Lisa Sthalekar, before Suzie Bates showed some excellent form with a quick-fire 29 off 24 balls, including six boundaries.

But Bates was then dismissed by a brilliant in swinging delivery from Rene Farrell, before Haidee Tiffen and Amy Satterthwaite led a good recovery with a 67-run third wicket stand.

Satterthwaite then fell to the bowling of Lisa Sthalekar, before Sara McGlashan and Tiffen again added another excellent stand of 62.

Tiffen’s disciplined innings, 57 off 113 balls, was finally ended by Erin Osborne which sparked a dramatic collapse, including the loss of highly rated Aimee Mason second ball.



From 171-3 the White Ferns were suddenly 187-9 with the wickets shared around the Australian attack.

Ellyse Perry, who had to spend some time off the field due to a finger injury sustained when she dropped a catch from a powerfully struck shot by Satterthwaite, returned to the field to end the White Ferns innings, for 205 all out, with 18-year-old Perry taking 3-40.

New Zealand knew that it needed early wickets if it was to get back into the match having fallen at least 30-40 runs short of its intended target.

And it couldn’t have wished for a better start when Sophie Devine dismissed Alex Blackwell for 4 to reduce Australia to 13-1.

Karen Rolton and Shelley Nitschke then displayed some good shots all around the wicket, with Rolton hitting a huge six over long-on. But the Australian captain was soon to fall, the first of three wickets in a brilliant Kate Pulford spell, as she mistimed a hook shot.

Things could have got worse when Lisa Sthalekar edged her second ball to slip, but she was dropped, although she was to fall off Pulford’s next over when keeper Rachel Priest took a brilliant diving catch.

Priest then went from hero to villain when she dropped a simple catch off Jodie Fields, but New Zealand didn’t have to wait long to take another wicket when Shelley Nitschke was trapped lbw by Pulford, the ball after she had hit a pull shot for six over fine leg, to reduce the Southern Stars to 68-4.

Although Fields and Perry restored some hope to Australia, after a fall of further wickets, rain ended any chance of victory.

ICC Women's World Cup 2009 - News  Sunday, March 08, 2009 1:51:58 AM

India and New Zealand victorious on day two of ICC Women's World Cup 2009 warm-up matches

Opener Anjum Chopra and left-arm spinner Sravanthi Krishnamurthy bowled India to a narrow 23-run victory over South Africa in an ICC Women’s World Cup 2009 warm-up match at Raby 1 on Tuesday.

Chopra, appearing in her fourth World Cup, stroked a fine 53 to help India to a modest 167 all out in 45.3 overs but Krishnamurthy returned magical figures of 10-2-28-5 to bowl South Africa out for 144 with 16 balls to spare.

Chopra, who hit four fours in a 107-ball knock, added 73 runs for the second wicket with former captain Mithali Raj who contributed 29. With MD Thirushkamini, Chopra put on 33 runs for the third wicket but once the stand was broken with the score on108, the rest of the Indian batting collapsed like a house of cards as it was dismissed for 167 runs with over four overs to spare.

For South Africa, 20-year-old fast bowler Shabnim Ismail stole the bowling honours when she took 4-35 while 15-year-old leg-spinner Dane van Niekrek bagged 2-32.

South Africa, in its target chase, started confidently when it reached 57 without loss in 17 overs. But after Priyanka Roy broke the first wicket stand between Trisha Chetty (35) and Yolandi van der Westhuizen (28) by dismissing the former, South Africa’s innings fell apart as it failed to counter the crafty spin bowling of the 22-year-old Krishnamurthy.

Krishnamurthy ran through the opponent’s middle-order and only Mignon du Preez’s breezy 42, with four fours, helped South Africa narrow the margin of defeat to 23 runs.

India captain Jhulan Goswami was happy with her team making a winning start to the tour. “It was a close match and an important win and I’m happy that we’ve started well. We played pretty good cricket.

“I’m very happy with how Anjum batted today. She has a senior role and took responsibility and the same with a lot of our young spinners. They showed leadership and used the wicket superbly, so I’m happy with how they bowled today.”

Elsewhere, former champion New Zealand gave Pakistan a cricket lesson when it defeated the eighth-ranked team by a convincing margin of 126 runs.

Batting first, New Zealand rattled 303-9 with opener Suzie Bates top scoring with a swashbuckling 80 that came off just 68 balls and included 10 fours. Sara McGlashan also took advantage of some friendly bowling from the Pakistani girls to hit six fours and a six in a 54-ball 63.

In turn, Pakistan opted for batting practice and finished at 177-8 with Bishmah Maroof scoring 39 and Naila Nazir following up her 2-61 with a watchful 38.

At Old Kings, New South Wales defeated Sri Lanka by nine wickets. Sri Lanka, batting first, scored 114 in 38.4 overs, which the home side achieved with more than 13 overs and nine wickets to spare.

All the eight participating teams in the tournament will be in action on Wednesday, which is the last day of the warm-up matches, before the main round begins on Saturday 7 March. On the opening day of the tournament, Pakistan will take on India at Bowral and England will meet Sri Lanka at Canberra.

Scores in brief:

At Raby 1: India 167 in 45.3 overs (Anjum Chopra 53, Mithali Raj 29; Shabnim Ismail 4-35, Dane van Niekerk 2-32)

South Africa 144 in 47.2 overs (Mignon du Preez 42, Trisha Chetty 35, Yolandi van der Westhuizen 28; Sravanthi Krishnamurthy 5-28, Priyanka Roy 3-35)

India won by 23 runs

At Manly: New Zealand 303-9 in 50 overs (Suzie Bates 80, Sara McGlashan 63, Haidee Tiffen 33, Nicola Browne 29, Aimee Mason 25, Sophie Devine 23 not out; Naila Nazir 2-61)

Pakistan 177-8 in 50 overs (Bismah Maroof 39, Naila Nazir 38, Sana Mir 34; Sarah Tsukigawa 3-23)

New Zealand won by 126 runs

At Old Kings: Sri Lanka 114 in 38.4 overs (Suwini de Alwis30; Sarah Aley 4-26)

NSW 115-1 in 36.2 overs (S.Hinton 41 not out, S.Coyte 35, K.Blackwell 31 not out)

NSW won by nine wickets

Warm-up fixtures for Wednesday 4 March:

Australia v Sri Lanka, Manly

India v New Zealand, Old Kings

England v West Indies, Raby 1

South Africa v Pakistan, Village Green 

ICC Women's World Cup 2009 - News  Tuesday, March 03, 2009 5:21:31 PM

Tiffen hungry for more World Cup success

New Zealand captain says it’s difficult to predict a winner as all top four teams have an even chance 

She says ESPN STAR Sports’ involvement reflects the growth of women’s cricket and feels privileged to be part of that development process 

Haidee Tiffen believes her team is well prepared for next month’s ICC Women’s World Cup and has vowed not to leave any stone unturned in an effort to emulate the achievement of Emily Drumm’s side which won New Zealand’s only World Cup nine years ago. 

Tiffen was a member of Drumm’s side as a 20-year-old all-rounder and contributed 187 runs with the bat and took eight wickets with the ball in New Zealand’s historic campaign. She was also in the 2005 World Cup side which narrowly missed out on a place in the final to India but she had a modest tournament with the wood scoring just 89 runs at an average of 17.80. 

At 29, Haidee is New Zealand’s second most experienced player ever after Debbie Hockley (118 ODIs) with 111 caps and its third most successful batter after Hockley (4,064 runs) and Drumm (2,844) with 2,640 runs. 

“The victory in the 2000 World Cup is very special to me and is very close to my heart. It was a privilege to be part of that extremely talented side. Now we again have a world-class side which has all the credentials to regain the World Cup,” the captain said. 

“It is difficult and unfair to compare the two sides. That side was amazing and had world-class players in Catherine Campbell, Drumm, Hockley, Rebecca Rolls, Anna Smith, Katrina Keenan, Kathryn Ramel and others while in the present team we have outstanding young talent in Amy Satterthwaite, Nicola Browne, Suzie Bates, Beth McNeill, Aimee Mason and others. 

“Like any other player in the side, it’s my dream and wish to win the World Cup again. But for any dream to come true, it requires tremendous hard work and commitment which we have put in over the last couple of years. 

“It is any sportsperson’s dream to be crowned as world champion. I know how it feels and would love to taste it again also because I am now the captain,” said Tiffen. 

The New Zealand captain said the Rose Bowl Series against Australia (which Australia retained after the series decider was washed out) provided her team with an excellent opportunity to prepare for the World Cup. “It was an excellent opportunity to play against the world’s best side just before the World Cup. We can draw a lot of positives from that series, keep improving and learn to be more consistent. 

“One of the positives from the series was that we reshuffled our batting order in almost every match to provide a chance to each player to take the responsibility and show what she has to offer. I am glad that every player rose to the occasion and performed which gives me the confidence that our batting not only has depth but is very flexible with every player capable of batting at any position and in any situation. 

“Our bowling is decent and has shown it can not only contain batters but can also pick up wickets at regular intervals. However, we have to be more intelligent while bowling in PowerPlays and have to try to be as straight as possible. 

“We also need to be a bit more consistent as victory is always nice and gives you the much required confidence. Such is the format of the tournament that if you are not consistent, you could be knocked out with one defeat. It is going to be a very tough tournament and consistency will be the key to success,” she said. 

Tiffen said New Zealand’s tournament opener against Australia was crucial. “It is a very important match not only from a psychological point of view but also because of the carry-over points that the teams take to the Super Six stage. 

“We have a couple of warm-up matches in the lead up to the tournament opener in which we will try to give final shape to our side so that we are best prepared for the match against Australia. 

“South Africa and the West Indies are the other sides in our pool and though we haven’t played them in the recent past, it would be a fair comment to say we should qualify for the Super Six stage. 

“In any tournament, you want to be in the best position and this tournament is no different as we would like to go in the Super Six stage with maximum carry-over points. 

“But the task will not be easy as Australia is a tough team to beat and with the event being staged in its backyard, it definitely has an edge over its main rivals. I have been part of the team that won the tournament on its home turf and know what home advantage can do to your confidence and can bring the best out of you. 

“I think Australia, New Zealand, England and India are of equal strength and any team can beat the other on its day. It is an open tournament with no clear-cut favourites. It boils down to the fact that the team which plays better on the match day will walk away winner.” 

Tiffen, while comparing the previous two World Cups with next month’s event, said: “The previous two tournaments I have been involved with were outstanding events. But this is going to be special as it will be held under the auspices of the ICC and will not be held again until 2013. With Australia being the host country, it is certainly going to be one of the most exciting events. 

“With ICC taking the ownership of the Women’s World Cup, it will certainly generate more media interest, already evident from the fact that seven matches will be covered live by ESPN STAR Sports. This reflects the growth and development of women’s cricket and I feel privileged to be part of that development process.” 

New Zealand will play two warm-up matches in a lead up to the World Cup. The former champion faces Pakistan at Manly on Tuesday 3 March and then takes on India at Old Kings on Wednesday 4 March. 

NEW ZEALAND – Haidee Tiffen (captain), Aimee Mason (vice-captain), Suzie Bates, Nicola Browne, Abby Burrows, Sophie Devine, Lucy Doolan, Sara McGlashan, Beth McNeill, Katey Martin, Rachel Priest, Kate Pulford, Amy Satterthwaite, Sarah Tsukigawa.

ICC Media Release
Friday, February 20, 2009 1:58:53 PM