No surprises in women's team for Australian series

No surprises featured in the New Zealand women's cricket team named today to tour Australia for a one-day series.

Eleven players were named, and all were members of the team originally selected for the pre-Christmas tour to India which was cancelled as a result of terrorist attacks in the United States and the subsequent war against terrorism in Afghanistan.

Three of the 14 players named for that tour, Sarah Burke, Emily Travers and Erin McDonald, have missed selection, although they will be competing for the one spot left open.

They have each been included in a New Zealand A team which will also have a tour to Australia. Also included in the A team are three players who will return with the CLEAR White Ferns later. They are Anna Corbin, Aimee Mason and Paula Flannery.

Unavailable for consideration was Canterbury all-rounder Fiona Fraser who had scans today for a back injury. Fraser was selected for the tour to India and has yet to make her international debut.

The New Zealand team is: Emily Drumm (captain), Kathryn Ramel (vice-captain), Anna Corbin, Paula Flannery, Aimee Mason, Anna O'Leary, Nicola Payne, Rachel Pullar, Rebecca Rolls, Haidee Tiffen, Helen Watson (one to be added).

They will play practice matches in Adelaide on February 17-18, before One-Day Internationals against Australia at the Adelaide Oval on February 20-21 and the Melbourne Cricket Ground on February 23.

The New Zealand A team is: Emily Travers (captain), Aimee Mason (vice-captain), Victoria Brown, Nicola Browne, Anna Corbin, Maria Fahey, Paula Flannery, Frances King, Beth McNeill, Louise Milliken, Kate Pulford, Natalie Scripps, Nicole Thessman.

The A team will have two practice matches at Geelong on February 6-7 followed by two matches against Australia Youth at Camberwell in Melbourne on February 10-11, Caulfield on February 13 and Ormond on February 14.