Canada prepare for first overseas tour

The inaugural overseas tour by Canada women will feature five matches in Trinidad and Tobago. The team leaves on April 10 for their two-week trip including two matches against Trinidad & Tobago Under-21. They also have two games against a Development XI and one against Tobago with the National Cricket Centre (NCC) in Couva, Trinidad their main base.

Mona Persaud is to captain Canada for the first time on this trip. Speaking after a practice session at Etobicoke's Qasra Sports, she said: "It is a very young team. Not all the girls have got much experience but we are looking forward to this first Canadian team tour. It is going to be tough but we have been working hard."

The players had been through fitness exercises and fielding drills in addition to batting and bowling in the nets. "Hopefully we will get more exposure so we can attract people to the game."

Sheryl Tittlemier, who is based in Ottawa but was born in Selkirk, Manitoba said: "I am absolutely looking forward to the trip" but was "not looking forward to the weather." It has been a snowy winter in the GTA and Ottawa but the trip will bring a major contrast in temperature.

"This will be my third full season, after attending practices about four years ago."

Her family has about 25 years' involvement in baseball. "A good friend of mine, who comes from Trinidad, Greg Tony, was responsible for me getting into cricket." Tittlemier plays with the men's club New Edinburgh in the Ottawa Valley Cricket Council as a right-handed batsman. "I can't say enough good things about the guys at the club that I play with."

This trip comes before the season has begun in Canada, so the heat is unlikely to be the only challenge, although the schedule was adjusted to ensure the players have a day or so to practice before the first match which, in reality, is not a lot of time.

Canada beat Bermuda and Argentina to win the first ICC Americas Regional Women's Championship in August 2007, but lost to the Trinidad & Tobago Under-17s. But it was useful experience albeit experience gained eight or nine months ago.

April 13 v Development XI (National Cricket Centre, Couva)
April 15 v Tobago (Tobago)
April 17 v Trinidad & Tobago Under 21 (UWI, St Augustine)
April 19 v Development XI (NCC)
April 20 v Trinidad & Tobago Under-21 (NCC)