Former Auckland cricketer Hamish Barton has been appointed coach of the White Ferns, effective from Monday .
Barton, the White Ferns’ assistant coach in 2012, is a high performance specialist who acted as New Zealand Cricket’s Coach Development Manager from 2009 to 2013.
Like BLACKCAPS’ coach Mike Hesson, Barton can count a stint in charge of the Argentina national team on his CV, having filled the role for four years between 2005 and 2009.
Currently high performance manager at the Northern Mystics netball franchise, the 37-year-old Barton will continue in that role while undertaking the part-time position of White Ferns coach.
He said the upcoming 12 months was shaping up as an exciting time for the White Ferns’, with solid performances over the past season auguring well for challenges ahead.
“Globally, the women’s game is evolving quickly now; it’s very competitive with many countries contracting all their national players fulltime,” said Barton.
“There’s no doubt we have to keep progressing to retain our position at the forefront of international cricket – and that will be a priority over the next year.”
Barton said a strong-performing White Ferns side was crucial for the development of women’s cricket in New Zealand.
“It’s the shop window for the women’s game here,” he said. “The better the performance of the White Ferns, the more appealing the game is for the bright young athletes considering cricket as their future.”
Barton’s first mission in charge of the White Ferns will be the tour to the West Indies in September.