Sport

White Ferns spinner headlines inaugural Aotearoa Maori women’s squad

10:33 am on 11 January 2024

Eden Carson celebrates taking a wicket for New Zealand against Sri Lanka in a T20 international P. Saravanamuttu International cricket Stadium in Colombo in July 2023. Photo: Isuru Sameera Peiris/ / www.photosport.nz

The Otago Sparks player joins Jess McFadyen and Sam Barriball as the three players with White Ferns experience in the squad - the first senior New Zealand Māori cricket team to compete since an Aotearoa Māori men's team was took part in the Pacifica Cup back in 2001.

The tournament includes five East Asia Pacific Nations: Cook Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Vanuatu, as well as Aotearoa Māori, with pool play games hosted at Auckland's Lloyd Elsmore Park, with a final on Sunday week.

The 22-player squad includes 11 players with domestic contracts as well as Carson, and will be coached by former White Ferns cptain Maia Lewis (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Māniapoto).

Lewis said she was looking forward to working with the first ever Aotearoa Māori women's squad, which she described as an exciting mix of youth and experience.

Maia Lewis. Photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz

"There's a lot of natural talent and flair in the side, a lot of potential, and most encouragingly, a lot more depth to pick this side from.

"When I coached the first Aotearoa Māori Secondary Schoolgirls team a few years ago, it was more a matter of taking what we could get - but since then things have massively improved and the depth has increased markedly."

Lewis said the Pacific Cup is as much of a cultural event as a cricket event, with the Māori side performing a haka before each game.

"It's about learning more about our culture through cricket.

"Some of the players in our squad speak Māori fluently, others have never even been on a Marae before - but I can say that everyone is very open to learning."

Central Hinds batter Kerry Tomlinson, who has played four games for the Netherlands, will captain the side, with McFadyen and Hearts pace bowler Skye Bowden named as joint vice-captains.

Aotearoa Māori Squad

Kerry Tomlinson (C) - Te Whānau-ā-Apanui / Ngāti Porou

Skye Bowden (VC) - Ngā Puhi / Ngāti Hine

Jess McFadyen (VC) - Ngāi Tahu

Dayle Anderson - Tainui

Georgia Atkinson - Ngāti Kahungunu

Nicole Baird - Ngāti Ruanui

Sam Barriball - Ngāti Rangitihi / Tūhoe

Ocean Bartlett - Ngā Puhi / Ngāti Porou

Jessica Benge - Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi

Eden Carson - Ngāti Porou

Olivia Clark - Ngāi Tahu

Claire Crooks - Ngā Puhi / Ngāti Hine

Marama Downes - Ngāti Tūwharetoa / Ngāti Awa / Te Arawa

Mollie Drumm - Ngāti Porou

Mereana Hyde - Ngā Puhi / Tainui

Caitlin King - Ngāti Tūwharetoa

Macy Lyford - Ngāti Kahungunu

Sam Mackinder - Te Whānau-ā-Apanui / Ngāti Porou

Emma Parker - Ngā Puhi

Jess Smith - Ngā Puhi / Tainui

Anika Todd - Ngāti Whātua

Holly Topp - Ngāi Tahu