Heat on Spirit from the start

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

NORTHERN Spirit vice-captain Mel Knight and her young team will face a baptism of fire when they play Wellingon Blaze in the first round of the national women’s domestic competition this week.

“We’ve lost a lot of senior players from last year, including three frontline bowlers, whereas Wellington have got some topnotch and in-form White Ferns,” said the Poverty Bay women’s captain, whose Bay teammate Kerry Tomlinson is also in the Spirit squad.

“Realistically no one will see us as title contenders but that doesn’t mean we can’t upset some of the more fancied teams.

“I’m picking our best chances will be in the T20 games.”

The teams meet three times over three days in Karori — a twenty/20 game on Friday and one-day games on Saturday and Sunday.

New coach for Northern SpiritAs well as new players the Spirit have a new coach in Whites Ferns great Emily Drumm.

“This is my fourth season with the Spirit but the first time we’ve had a female coach,” Knight said. “I haven’t had much involvement with Emily — a couple of training camps and a pre-season game against Auckland — but she comes across really well.

“She keeps saying we’re all out there to win, which is positive talk, especially for a young team. The average age of the team is around 23 and that’s only because I’m 36 and bring the age up.

“The aim is to win every game we play but if that’s not the outcome then we have to work harder for the next game.

“After that our next game won’t be until Boxing Day when all the teams play in Lincoln,” said Knight, whose main role in the side is as a bowler, with Tomlinson a top-order batter.

“We’re down to play Otago in Lincoln. For the past three seasons I’ve got used to being away over Christmas for three days. I’ll miss the family but I’m looking forward to the season. I’m injury-free and that’s a bonus.”

The Spirit will be led by 20-year-old Brooke Halliday (Counties-Manukau) and their ranks have been boosted by Australian international Holly Ferling.