2022 Women's Cricket World Cup team guides: White Ferns have found form
The White Ferns’ dream at the Women’s Cricket World Cup is an obvious one.
Emulate the team from 2000 that beat Australia in a thrilling final at Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln to win New Zealand’s first – and to this day, only – title.
This time around, the final will be under lights at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, though Covid-19 restrictions will likely mean there is a smaller crowd.
And Sophie Devine’s side will have their work cut out to get there, even though they have made positive strides over the last few weeks.
Beating India 4-1 to secure their first series win since 2018 was a big confidence boost for a team that has been short on it recent years.
But the World Cup promises to be a different beast to a bilateral series and for the White Ferns, it begins with what is almost a must-win match, against the West Indies at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui.
With six more matches to follow, that’s not literally the case, but if they can’t take care of business against the women from the Caribbean, they’ll be playing catch up when the tougher tests come.
Their campaign is likely to be defined by the four matches they play in 11 days from March 10 to March 20, against the four semifinalists from the last World Cup – India, Australia, South Africa, and England.
Before that stretch, they also play Bangladesh, next Monday. After it, they play Pakistan, who they lost to in an unofficial warm-up fixture on Sunday.
Making the semifinals is the minimum expected of the White Ferns on home soil, where they won’t have large crowds cheering them on, due to Covid-19 restrictions, but will be familiar with the conditions.
They are yet to deploy a full-strength XI this summer, but that should change on Friday, barring any late injuries, which they’ll be hoping to avoid, having already lost Lauren Down with a broken thumb.
Fresh from her breakthrough series as an all-rounder against India, Melie Kerr will be key to the White Ferns’ hopes, while the veteran trio of Devine, Suzie Bates, and Amy Satterthwaite will be counted on to join her in starring with the bat.
Lea Tahuhu will lead the seam attack – the composition of which is the big question mark heading into Friday’s opener. Devine will be there and Hayley Jensen and Jess Kerr would be the favourites to round it out on recent form, ahead of Hannah Rowe and Rosemary Mair. Frankie Mackay is likely to join Melie Kerr as a second spinner, but could make way for an extra seamer, if one is deemed necessary.
Recent form
The White Ferns have won more ODIs this year than they had in the past three years combined, beating India 4-1 at John Davies Oval in Queenstown for what was their first series win in nine attempts, stretching back to 2018. A loss to Pakistan in a warm-up match on Sunday was a bit of a concern, but Melie Kerr didn’t bat in that match, while there was a concerted effort to give all nine of their bowling options a run, so the result should be taken with a pinch of salt.
One to watch
So far, this has been the summer of Melie Kerr. Against India she made 33, 119no, 67, 68no, and 66 with the bat; took seven wickets with the ball; and claimed nine catches – arguably the greatest all-round performance in one series in the history of women’s ODI cricket. If she carries that form into the World Cup, the White Ferns will be a genuine contender.
Key facts
Squad: Sophie Devine (c), Amy Satterthwaite (vc), Suzie Bates, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Fran Jonas, Hayley Jensen, Jess Kerr, Melie Kerr, Frankie Mackay, Rosemary Mair, Katey Martin, Georgia Plimmer, Lea Tahuhu, Hannah Rowe
Coach: Bob Carter
World ranking: Fifth
World Cup history: Qualified 11 times
Best World Cup result: Champions (2000)
TAB odds: $4.33
Prediction: The White Ferns rising to the occasion and making a run to the final looks more realistic now than it did a month ago, but it’s hard to know how much stock to put in them repeatedly beating one team. They should make the semifinals, but right now it’s hard to say they’ll advance beyond them.
