New Zealand women's cricket team commences preparations in Chennai for the forthcoming Women's World Cup competition
New Zealand Women's Cricket Team Gears Up for ICC World Cup with Chennai Training Camp
The New Zealand women's cricket team is currently in Chennai, India, preparing for the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025. The two-week training camp, held at the Chennai Super Kings academy, is a strategic move to acclimatise the team to subcontinental conditions ahead of the tournament, which kicks off on September 30, 2025, in India and Sri Lanka.
The camp, running from early August, provides valuable acclimatization for the team, helping them adapt to spin-friendly pitches, irregular bounce, and weather conditions different from those in New Zealand. This adaptation is crucial for their success in the tournament.
The squad consists of ten players, including seven contracted White Ferns and three emerging talents. The experienced players, such as Jess Kerr, Georgia Plimmer, and Brooke Halliday, are balanced with promising newcomers like Izzy Sharp, Flora Devonshire, and Emma McLeod.
Head coach Ben Sawyer and assistant coach Craig McMillan lead the camp, ensuring focused skill development. The team has been training hard for the past five days, aiming to adapt to the heat naturally.
The preparation includes three one-day games in Chennai, followed by matches against England in Dubai. These games are crucial for the team to adapt to the subcontinental conditions before the event proper. After the camp games, the team will play one-dayers against England in Dubai.
The team's ultimate goal is to win both the T20 and 50-over titles in the same cycle. To achieve this, they will participate in warm-ups against South Africa and India in Bengaluru before the Women's Cricket World Cup.
Ben Sawyer, the head coach, emphasized the importance of these games due to the team's lack of official matches since February. The team's first match in the World Cup will be against arch-rivals Australia in Indore on October 1.
The New Zealand women's cricket team is leaving no stone unturned in their quest for victory. With their focus on adapting to subcontinental conditions and their determination to win both World Cup titles, they are set to make a strong impact in the 2025 ICC Women's Cricket World Cup.
The New Zealand women's cricket team is utilising their Chennai training camp to not only prepare for the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup but also to gather valuable insights on spin-friendly pitches, irregular bounce, and subcontinental weather that could impact their performance. In the midst of this rigorous training, the team is also participating in several games against England, aiming to refine their strategies for the competitive world of sports.
