WHITE FERNS spinner Eden Carson has been named in the first Aotearoa Māori women’s squad, to contest the Pacific Cup tournament in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, starting next Wednesday.
The Otago Sparks finger spinner will join Jess McFadyen and Sam Barriball as the three players with WHITE FERNS experience in the squad – the first senior New Zealand Māori cricket team to compete since an Aotearoa Māori men’s team was selected to take part in the Pacifica Cup back in 2001.
The tournament will comprise five East Asia Pacific Nations: Cook Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Vanuatu, as well as Aotearoa Māori, with pool play games hosted at Lloyd Elsmore Park, ahead of the final on Sunday week.
Matches on Lloyd Elsmore number one will be broadcast on TVNZ+ using a three-camera setup with full commentary, replays and graphics.
The 22-player squad will include 11 players with domestic contracts as well as Carson, and will be coached by former WHITE FERNS captain Maia Lewis (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Māniapoto), a veteran of 88 internationals across all formats.
Lewis said she was looking forward to working with the first ever Aotearoa Māori women’s squad, which she described as an exciting mix of youth and experience.
“There’s a lot of natural talent and flair in the side, a lot of potential, and most encouragingly, a lot more depth to pick this side from.
“When I coached the first Aotearoa Māori Secondary Schoolgirls team a few years ago, it was more a matter of taking what we could get – but since then things have massively improved and the depth has increased markedly.”
Lewis said the Pacific Cup is as much of a cultural event as a cricket event, with the Māori side performing a haka before each game.
“It’s about learning more about our culture through cricket, and that’s a very worthy motivation.
“Some of the players in our squad speak Māori fluently, others have never even been on a Marae before – but I can say that everyone is very open to learning.”
Central Hinds batter Kerry Tomlinson, who has played four games for the Netherlands, will captain the side, with McFadyen and Hearts pace bowler Skye Bowden named as joint vice-captains.
The Pacific Cup will also represent an opportunity for nations to build capability around cricket - with coach, umpire, and player development sessions planned for attendees.
The tournament will be officially opened with a pōwhiri on Tuesday, January 16, with a cultural evening will be held on Saturday January 20, at the University of Auckland - Fale Pasifika.
All matches will be live scored on nzc.nz and PlayHQ.
Aotearoa Māori Squad
Kerry Tomlinson (C) – Te Whānau-ā-Apanui / Ngāti Porou
Skye Bowden (VC) – Ngā Puhi / Ngāti Hine
Jess McFadyen (VC) – Ngāi Tahu
Dayle Anderson – Tainui
Georgia Atkinson – Ngāti Kahungunu
Nicole Baird – Ngāti Ruanui
Sam Barriball – Ngāti Rangitihi / Tūhoe
Ocean Bartlett – Ngā Puhi / Ngāti Porou
Jessica Benge – Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi
Eden Carson - Ngāti Porou
Olivia Clark - Ngāi Tahu
Claire Crooks - Ngā Puhi / Ngāti Hine
Marama Downes – Ngāti Tūwharetoa / Ngāti Awa / Te Arawa
Mollie Drumm - Ngāti Porou
Mereana Hyde - Ngā Puhi / Tainui
Caitlin King - Ngāti Tūwharetoa
Macy Lyford – Ngāti Kahungunu
Sam Mackinder - Te Whānau-ā-Apanui / Ngāti Porou
Emma Parker - Ngā Puhi
Jess Smith - Ngā Puhi / Tainui
Anika Todd – Ngāti Whātua
Holly Topp - Ngāi Tahu
PACIFIC CUP SCHEDULE
Wednesday 17 January
Aotearoa Māori v Papua New Guinea, Lloyd Elsmore Park 1, 10:30am – TVNZ+
Cook Islands v Samoa, Lloyd Elsmore Park 2, 10:30am
Fiji v Vanuatu, Lloyd Elsmore Park 3, 10:30am
Cook Islands v Fiji, Lloyd Elsmore Park 1, 3:00pm – TVNZ+
Aotearoa Māori v Vanuatu, Lloyd Elsmore Park 2, 3:00pm
Samoa v Papua New Guinea, Lloyd Elsmore Park 3, 3:00pm
Thursday 18 January
Vanuatu v Samoa, Lloyd Elsmore Park 1, 3:00pm – TVNZ+
Papua New Guinea v Cook Islands, Lloyd Elsmore Park 2, 3:00pm
Aotearoa Māori v Fiji, Lloyd Elsmore Park 3, 3:00pm
Friday 19 January
Papua New Guinea v Vanuatu, Lloyd Elsmore Park 1, 10:30am – TVNZ+
Fiji v Samoa, Lloyd Elsmore Park 2, 10:30am
Aotearoa Māori v Cook Islands, Lloyd Elsmore Park 3, 10:30am
Cook Islands v Vanuatu, Lloyd Elsmore Park 1, 3:00pm – TVNZ+
Samoa v Aotearoa Māori, Lloyd Elsmore Park 2, 3:00pm
Papua New Guinea v Fiji, Lloyd Elsmore Park 3, 3:00pm
Sunday 21 January
3rd v 4th playoff, Lloyd Elsmore Park 1, 10:30am
5th v 6th playoff, Lloyd Elsmore Park 2, 10:30am
Grand final (1st v 2nd), Lloyd Elsmore Park 1, 3:00pm – TVNZ+
