Tiffen confident ahead of ODI series

Haidee Tiffen, captain of the New Zealand women's team, expressed confidence ahead of the five-match ODI series against India after the team ended a week's productive training at New Zealand Cricket's High Performance Centre in Lincoln.

The team trained with Steve Jenkin, the World Cup winning coach from Australia, and comprehensively won two practice games against New Zealand A held during the camp. Tiffen praised the work of Jenkin, saying that he has had a positive impact on the squad. "He played against us for years. He's really positive, he brings some of that Australian confidence, and it's soaking into the players. It's an exciting time. It's great to have some fresh ideas and a new approach. All the girls are really positive."

Tiffen was hopeful that the intense competition in the recently concluded State League would benefit them at the international level.

"We want competition in New Zealand," she said. "We want players to be under pressure all the time. It's really good for New Zealand women's cricket that there's no one team that is easy beat."

The first ODI against India begins at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln on Saturday.

Squad Haidee Tiffen (capt), Suzie Bates, Nicola Browne Sarah Burke, Anna Dodd, Emily Drumm, Maria Fahey, Sara McGlashan, Aimee Mason, Louise Milliken, Rebecca Rolls, Sarah Tsukigawa, Helen Watson.