FOR THE RECORD
White Ferns aim to stop Aussies making history
The Australian women’s cricket team have a golden chance to etch their names in the record books when they face the White Ferns in the opening one-day international in Mt Maunganui today.
The match marks the start of another slate of white-ball matches for the two sides, who come off a drawn Twenty20 series after the last of three matches was rained out in Auckland on Thursday.
If the visitors secure victory, it would be a record-breaking 22nd consecutive ODI win and would surpass the mark set by the Australian men’s side led by Ricky Ponting in 2003.
The last time the women lost was during their Ashes series with England in October 2017.
Skipper Meg Lanning says the temptation of a world record isn’t creeping into their preparations for the first Rose Bowl clash.
“We go out there to win every game we play, so the games coming up will be no different for us. We expect the Kiwis to come out really hard and give us a good contest and we’re going to have to play well,” Lanning said. “We just need to adjust into that format.”
The White Ferns have not won a one-day series against Australia since 1999, and their chances of winning the Rose Bowl look even slimmer after captain Sophie Devine left the squad yesterday to return to Wellington.
Devine didn’t play the final two T20s against Australia because of fatigue and the decision has been made for her to take a rest.
White Ferns coach Bob Carter said the decision was made in the
best interests of Devine, and he confirmed Amy Satterthwaite would lead the side in Devine’s absence.
Seamer Lea Tahuhu has returned from injury after missing the T20s, and fellow bowlers Hannah Rowe and Leigh Kasperek will remain with the squad for the one-day series.
Satterthwaite said the desire to beat Australia was more of a driving force than the possibility of preventing a record-setting win.
“It’s more just around who we’re playing. We know what a quality team they are, and we saw in that last T20 game that any time you beat Australia, it’s a really big moment and an enjoyable one,” Satterthwaite said. “It would be a big moment for us regardless of stopping them getting a record. It’s just about going out and performing in each game and really trying to look for that win.”
The Kiwis claimed an encouraging scalp with victory in the second T20I clash on Tuesday, chasing down their transtasman rivals for a four-wicket win. It’s a performance Satterthwaite says they can build on.
“We all knew it was there, within us as a group, and the challenge was being able to show everyone else what we can do.”
The first one-dayer begins at 11am.