Last Update: January 28, 2023, 3:50 PM IST
Sophie Devine (AFP image)
New Zealand’s best performance in the Women’s T20 World Cup has been runners-up in 2009 and 2010.
New Zealand captain Sophie Devine says her team has set its sights on winning the upcoming Women’s T20 World The cup is to be held in South Africa from 10 to 26 February.
New Zealand’s best performance in the Women’s T20 World Cup has been runners-up in 2009 and 2010. When the tournament was last held in Australia in 2020, they had to make an early exit from the group stages.
“Like every other team that is here – we are here to win it. We know what it takes to win games of cricket and the style of play that can help us achieve it. Now it’s up to us to be able to do that match by match under the pressure of the World Cup.”
Although she will miss New Zealand’s warm-up matches due to a stress fracture in her left foot, Sophie was quick to point out that her preparation for the big tournament is strong.
“We are lucky that the World Cup is at the end of our home summer, so we have played a lot of cricket recently. We are all playing the Super Smash (New Zealand domestic T20 tournament)… as well as the T20 and ODI series against Bangladesh before Christmas, so we think we will be prepared as always.”
Sophie, who has featured in all seven T20 World Cups so far, is also upbeat about the New Zealand players who could make a splash in the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup.
“Our experienced players like Suzie Bates and Mellie (Amelia) Kerr are going to be key players, but I’m really excited about what’s coming from our young guns like Fran Jonas and Georgia Plimmer – both of whom have played in the U19 World Cup and will There will definitely be a future for the White Ferns.”
“It’s an exciting time for Molly Penfold and Eden Carson who take part in their first ICC World Cups, and we also welcome wicketkeeper-batsman Bernadine Bezuidenhout, who has spent the last two years away from the game.”
“We have selected a squad that gives us lots of options with the ball, especially in the spin department. And with the bat we have experience throughout our squad which will hold us in good stead going into this summit event,” he elaborated. Told from
Sophie signed off by saying that the T20I format has been extremely important in the development of women’s cricket. “It is an incredible time to be involved with women’s cricket and the T20 format has been a real driver for the growth of the game. The professionalism has increased dramatically and we are seeing the way the players are clearing the ropes, the athleticism in the field and the pace the bowlers are bowling.”
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)