Wellington Collegians wicketkeeper Florence Marshall and Hutt District seamer Rose Fenton are two new faces selected in the Wellington Blaze 20-strong training squad.
Marshall joins the squad having performed well at club level and in the women’s Wellington Premier League last summer, while Fenton has impressed Wellington selectors with her performances for Hutt District over the past two seasons and was part of the inaugural Wellington women’s A programme set up during the 2019/20 season.
A former Wellington Under 21 representative, Marshall adds depth to the wicketkeeping stocks that already boasts WHITE FERN Jess McFadyen and Wellington Under 19 star Antonia Hamilton.
Fenton joins an array of fast bowling options in the squad including WHITE FERN Jess Kerr, Maneka Singh and youngsters Natasha Codyre and Beth Molony.
The squad incorporates a steady balance of international and domestic talent, as well as young players who have progressed through the Cricket Wellington pathway system.
New Zealand Under 19 internationals Georgia Plimmer and Codyre add good depth, while Rebecca Burns, Caitlin King and Deanna Doughty add strong domestic experience.
The side will have the luxury of an early pre-season training campaign which will start on grass at the Basin Reserve on September 7.
Blaze head coach Lance Dry said there would be a strong focus on early preparation leading into the 2021/22 season.
“We are looking forward to an earlier than normal start on grass which we think will have a massive impact on getting this team where we need it to be come the start of the summer,” he said.
“There will be a heavy early season focus on fielding, which we see as a key strength to this side and that takes time, which is a luxury we are lucky to have.
“As a management team we want to create an intensely competitive, highly challenging and consistently enjoyable environment.
“We will have a busy pre-season with matches including a quad series in Taupo over Labour Weekend all scheduled in the weeks prior to the first Hallyburton Johnstone Shield round.”
WHITE FERNS allrounder Maddy Green will once again captain the side and talented WHITE FERNS allrounder Amelia Kerr will take-on a leadership role for the first time as vice-captain.
The squad will be without six of its seven WHITE FERNS internationals for the first six weeks of pre-season training due to the WHITE FERNS tour of England.
The Blaze’s 2021-22 campaign will get underway in October.
Wellington Blaze 2021/22 Training Squad
Maddy Green (c)
Amelia Kerr (vc)
Olivia Boivin
Rebecca Burns
Kate Chandler
Natasha Codyre
Sophie Devine
Deanna Doughty
Rose Fenton
Antonia Hamilton
Xara Jetly
Leigh Kasperek
Jessica Kerr
Caitlin King
Jessica McFadyen
Florence Marshall
Beth Molony
Thamsyn Newton
Georgia Plimmer
Maneka Singh
Article added: Tuesday 24 August 2021
