Six days to go and counting

The countdown to the CricInfo Women's World Cup is well and truly on and it is only another six days until we assemble for our final preparation for the tournament.

Last week our team was selected after two final trial matches at Lincoln Green, one of the three grounds to be used during the Cup. Two new caps have been included in the side, wicket-keeper Emily Travers and left-arm spin bowler Erin McDonald.

Next Sunday, our team of 15 assembles at Lincoln University before we head off to Hanmer Springs for a team briefing. Hanmer is a holiday resort about 90 minutes north of Christchurch.

When we return to Lincoln, we will then settle into the awesome Pavilions accommodation which will be home to us throughout the World Cup.

With seven players in each pavilion, it won't be too dissimilar to flatting again. I'm sure we are in for some fun times, some experimental cooking and numerous discussions over the television remote control.

Until we assemble we have the last few pages of our training diaries to complete and fax through to our trainer Warren Frost and coach Mike Shrimpton. One of the highlights of our training sessions throughout the winter has been the speed units we have been required to do.

These combination work outs were undertaken by squad members twice weekly, come rain, hail or snow. The sessions involved agility, plyometric and sprint drills, as well as abdominal and medicine ball activities.

The sessions were challenging, cricket specific and it is awesome to reflect on the progress players have made.

The first of three warm up matches against England will be played in Oamaru, three hours from Christchurch on Sunday, November 19. Then we head north back to Christchurch stopping in Timaru for matches on Tuesday 21 and Wednesday 22.

As you know the first match of the CricInfo Women's World Cup is scheduled for November 29.

New Zealand Cricket has been very busy putting together a comprehensive marketing and promotional plan to not only promote the event but to encourage people along to the games.

One initiative in particular is the free buses that have been offered to schools throughout the Christchurch region. As a result of this promotion we have 1500 students coming out to the opening match. In addition to this, 50,000 flyers will be circulated around the city, along with street banners, posters and a number of media events.

Although we will finish another phase of our build up at the end of next week, another will begin on November 12 as the CricInfo Women's World Cup draws closer.