Girls Aloud

Translating domestic bliss into international success

The Rose Bowl Series will be our first international outing in a year but it’s not like we haven’t played hard competitive cricket for 12 months

Haidee Tiffen
25-Feb-2013


The Rose Bowl Series will be our first international outing in a year but it’s not like we haven’t played hard competitive cricket for 12 months. In fact I believe the preparation for the upcoming season has been excellent.
During the winter we had monthly camps involving everything from skills, game plans, guest speakers, fitness, cooking skills, to a gruelling team challenge. We also had matches pre-season against representative boys. Our season started in October for a club competition and our domestic State competition started in early December. The State competition is extremely important for our preparation. It showed this year any team can be beaten and the competition was always closely fought and players put under pressure. The introduction of the State Twenty20 competition last year has proven to be successful and further develops the style of play we enjoy playing.
Our domestic season has been a huge success. The league has certainly evened up and there was certainly intense competition for places in the national side. During the last round four teams were fighting for the finals spot and the players were put under immense pressure.
No players this year went to England to play but we definitely will be sending some in the future. Suzie Bates had a short playing stint over in New South Wales, Australia. Playing Australia in their own backyard will be a challenge but it is one we are definitely up for. I have, in my 10 years of international cricket, played Australia the most. They have always been tough competition and a side with talented youngsters. We enjoy playing them and the two sides love to battle. I’d say the current New Zealand team is a well balanced side of youth and experience. We too have talented youngsters who will have an impact on the international arena. We have certainly got girls who are athletic and can bounce the ball and smack it to all parts. We are just looking forward to getting started.
To have two World Cup tournaments in a year is massive for our game, the development of it and the promotion of it. We have already at home had media interest and having the games televised will only do the game the better. I think the Twenty20 format of the game is the best way we can promote the game and showcase the skills that the women do have. The interest in Twenty20 cricket for the men globally is massive and to have our Twenty20 World Cup alongside the men can only be a good thing. I am sure all the teams competing in these two tournaments are just as excited as we are.