Rolls puts team first as New Zealand's women get ready for quadrangular series

New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman Rebecca Rolls is focusing on team rather than personal achievements in the upcoming quadrangular series against Australia, India and England despite being on the brink of two significant landmarks.

31-year-old Rolls needs 17 runs to become just the twelfth batsman to complete 2,000 ODI runs, and is only two matches from joining an elite group of eight players who have played 100 or more ODIs.

The list of those players is impressive with Rolls' compatriot Debbie Hockley, together with Belinda Clark of Australia, leading the field with 118 caps each.

They are followed up by the English duo of Clare Taylor and Jane Smit (both 105), Australia's Cathryn Fitzpatrick (102), Emily Drumm of New Zealand and Australian captain Karen Rolton (101 each), and Anjum Chopra (100) of India.

But on the brink of joining that list, the White Ferns veteran, who debuted in 1997, seemed a little embarrassed to be mentioned alongside them.

"I consider the other players who have played 100 games for their countries to all be exceptional competitors who personify the commitment and professionalism needed at this level," said Rolls.

"So I am a little humbled to be in their company to be honest, as I just stand behind the stumps! However it's an achievement I will always be very proud of.

"I always look forward to playing for my country and the next couple of games are no exception. (But) it's important we get off to a good start in this tournament, so that will be foremost in my mind," she added.

Rolls stands on the brink of her appearances landmark thanks to her excellence on either side of the stumps.

In 98 matches, she has scored 1,983 runs at an average of 23.89 with her top score of 114 off 111 balls coming against Australia in the 2001 Rosebowl Series. She has also secured 122 dismissals as a 'keeper with 80 catches and 42 stumpings.

The quadrangular series will run between 21 February and 5 March with each team playing the three other line-ups twice each, and Rolls feels it is a perfect chance for the four sides to see where they stand two years before the ICC Women's World Cup in Australia.

"The quadrangular series is the best place to compare yourself with others around the world as the best four teams are there," she said.

"Because of this, the intensity of games is higher than usual and mistakes more costly. Runs, wickets and results here are more valuable than in any other situation.

"Australia are always the team to beat in any situation and we will be keen to chalk up some wins after a losing a recent Rosebowl Series 5-0. We have many things to improve on from that series, most importantly capitalizing on winning situations.

"Even though we had a victorious series against India (in New Zealand in 2005), they are much tougher in their own backyard. They have a wide variety of skills that are a little left of centre but if they gather some momentum with a few wins, they can be difficult to stop.

"We have not played against England since the World Cup (in South Africa in 2005) where we won the only game against them.

"England have a solid core of quality players who have been playing for sometime as well as some exciting new members of their squad who, by all accounts, have added new dimensions to their game plan," Rolls added.

Rolls, toured India in 1995 as a footballer - she played that sport for NZ from 1994 to 1998 - and again in 1997 for the Women's World Cup, and she said she was eagerly looking forward to this next visit.

"I found (from my previous tours) India has unique challenges to deal with, such as heat and sickness. But on the other hand, offers experiences we'd never enjoy in other parts of the world.

"I'm looking forward to seeing what has changed in the last 10 years and playing cricket in a country which is completely mad on the game.

"During the 1997 Women's World Cup, we visited the Taj Mahal which still remains one of my favourite experiences. As this time we are in Chennai only and the itinerary is pretty jam packed, I'm not sure there will be time for much sightseeing," she added.

Rolls, a detective with the Auckland Metro Crime Squad, emphasized that it was important to differentiate between men's and women's cricket.

"I think it's important to recognise the differences between ours and the men's game and emphasis the strengths women have such as shot placement, bowling variations and other intricacies, in the absence of brute force, speed and power the guys possess.

"We can improve our game by increasing accessibility for young girls by playing in lots of different locations in a country hosting a series, by getting in front of the general public through media and as has recently been done in Australia, perhaps playing Twenty20 'curtain raisers' before a men's game," she said.

Rolls feels women's cricket is growing fast and getting more popular with every game.

"I think our game is becoming a product we can all be proud of. We are increasing fitness and skill levels which can only result in more exciting competitive fixtures.

"I still think we have some room to move in this respect and can become even more attacking in our batting, field settings and tactics, and smarter with our bowling.

"Recent introductions of Twenty20 games have promoted this and I believe it's a game we should play more of," she said.

The White Ferns will attend a 10-day training camp in Christchurch and will also play practice games against New Zealand A (7 and 9 February) and Australian Youth side (11 February) before departing for Chennai on 14 February. They open their campaign against Australia on 21 February.