Cricket: Future stars set to shine bright

Wanganui's Jessica Watkin scored 49 for the Central Districts Hinds on Saturday, and first got attention in the same Wanganui Festival of Cricket which begins today. Photo/File

For over 70 players in the five teams that make up the national girls Under-15 tournament, the coming four days of play are going to feel like an entire season.

Weather permitting at Victoria Park, today will be the opening games of the Wanganui Festival of Cricket, which thanks to the inclusion of an Otago U15 girls team for the first time, means it will be a full national tournament.

They will play 30-over matches, sometimes twice a day, which organiser Dilan Raj said equated to a full representative campaign in less than a week.

"It's a huge challenge for them but these are the girls that will be our White Ferns."

It is a proving ground that has already reaped rewards with two young players from last year's tournament progressing to senior provincial honours this season.

After being brought along slowly so far this summer by Central Districts Hinds coach Mike Shrimpton, Wanganui's Jessica Watkin got an opportunity on Saturday and ended up as the best batter in her side's 70-odd run loss to Northern Districts, as she top scored with 49.

Another teenager to evolve since last January is Emma Fulbrook, who was the Player of the Tournament and is now a member of the Wellington Blaze squad.

Of the current crop to watch, Raj has singled out Wellington's Amelia Kerr as a star of the future.

Playing strongly at last year's festival, Kerr has recently turned 13 but had a great summer in Cricket Wellington's Year 8 premier grade for boys.

"She captained her team to win the competition for the first time in the club's history," Raj said.

"During the winter she was selected for the New Zealand under 20 women's indoor cricket squad who contest the World Cup in September.

"She was also player of the tournament at the recent NZ Shield contested by over 100 intermediate schools throughout New Zealand."

Raj said each squad had some high calibre talent calling the shots to bring out the best in this current crop of players.

"When you've got Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine as your coaches, it's a hands-on learning experience.

"Every one of them has played international cricket that's leading a team."

Otago coach Bates has been the White Ferns captain, while Wellington's Devine has also played for the national side.

There is also a globe-trotting theme amongst the other mentors as Hinds player and Wanganui captain Esther Lanser, Northern District's Kerry Tomlinson and Auckland's Mariska Kornet have all represented the Netherlands.

CD's Eimear Richardson wore Irish colours, while Canterbury's Mandie Godliman played for England and domestically has represented that province as well as Northern Districts and Wellington.

As well as the feature games at Victoria Park, the introduction of Otago means the secondary districts teams have been able to split off into their own separate tournament, which will be played at Collegiate School at the same time.

Wanganui will be taking on Manawatu and two combined teams Taranaki/Hawke's Bay and Christchurch/Nelson.

Two of the local girls to watch will be Louise Clifton and Taliah Su'a, niece of former New Zealand test player Murphy Su'a.

Raj said both girls had been eligible for the Central Districts U15 team, but it was in their best interests to hold them back at this stage to further develop certain facets of their game.

This year for the Under 15s, Aero Nike are on board as a sponsor and will offer up a deal for the Player of the Tournament, who will be able to purchase gear at 50 per cent off, which was the same prize given to Fulbrook last January.