Second Rose Bowl series for White Ferns

The trans-Tasman rivalry between the White Ferns and the Australian women’s team is set to intensify this summer, with the announcement of a second leg of the Rose Bowl series between the two sides, in New Zealand.

The two sides are already scheduled to play five One-Day Internationals and three Twenty20 Internationals in Australia during February 2010.

New Zealand Cricket has now confirmed that it will host a second series including two Twenty20 Internationals and three One-Day Internationals, in New Zealand, immediately after the Australian series.

The series will include Twenty20 Internationals at Wellington, on 26 February, and Christchurch, on 28 February.

Both matches are being played as curtain-raisers to the men’s Twenty20 Internationals between the BLACKCAPS and Australia, at Westpac Stadium and AMI Stadium.

The teams then travel to Queenstown for the first One-Day International on 3 March, followed by two further ODIs at Invercargill on 6 and 7 March.

Queenstown and Invercargill will be hosting women’s international cricket for the first time.

White Ferns coach Gary Stead said the expanded Rose Bowl series will help the team to build on the momentum from recent positive results.

“The schedule means we’ll have five Twenty20 matches against strong opposition, heading into the ICC World Twenty20 competition in the West Indies in May,” he said.

“We were pleased with the good showing in our two international competitions last summer, but obviously we’re aiming to improve on our second placing at the World T20 event.

“The squad has been working hard over the winter with a highly successful series of training camps – and these games against the Australians will be ideal match preparation.”

Each of the two legs on either side of the Tasman will be played as a separate series, with the Rose Bowl trophy up for grabs in each campaign. The Twenty20 Internationals will be included in the trophy for the first time.

Australia are the current holders, having retained the trophy after a drawn series in New Zealand earlier this year.

The Rose Bowl series was founded in 1978-79, and was originally awarded to the winner of a three-Test series. With the decline in women’s Test matches – the two sides have not played a Test since 1995 – the Rose Bowl series has continued to be played as an annual limited-overs competition.

SCHEDULE

Fri 26 Feb White Ferns v Australia, 1st Twenty20 International

Westpac Stadium, Wellington, 3.00pm

Sun 28 Feb White Ferns v Australia, 2nd Twenty20 International

AMI Stadium, Christchurch, 2.00pm

Wed 3 Mar White Ferns v Australia, 1st ODI

Queenstown Events Centre, Queenstown, 10.30am

Sat 06 Mar White Ferns v Australia, 2nd ODI

Queens Park, Invercargill, 10.30am

Sun 07 Mar White Ferns v Australia, 3rd ODI

Queens Park, Invercargill, 10.30am