Build-up continues for Kiwi women

New Zealand's aspiring challengers for the CricInfo Women's World Cup meet for the fifth of six winter camps in Christchurch at the weekend.

The side has made full use of the High Performance Centre at Lincoln University, which will be the base for the world championship in November-December this year.

Nineteen players around the country have been taking part in closely monitored build-up programmes designed to have the CLEAR New Zealand women at peak readiness for the event.

Team coach and former New Zealand men's international Mike Shrimpton has been trying to professionalise the attitude of the side in preparation for the Cup.

"Hopefully, this won't only be a one-off and will continue into the future development of the women's side," he said in Christchurch today.

"One of my big pushes has been in fielding. The players lacked speed and agility to the ball, and their throwing was disappointing. So we are trying to reach the Australian standard for the World Cup."

"The improvement has been measurable and noticeable," he said.

Australia is the defending World Cup champion after beating New Zealand by five wickets in the 1997 World Cup.

New Zealand Cricket's (NZC) women's cricket administrator Catherine Campbell, who is also a member of the training squad, agreed improvements were noticeable.

"What's been different this time, compared to 1993 and 1997 is that we had camps in April, May and June and then were away to the Cup. This time we have had to wait longer.

"We have a good format for the camps. They are held over three days, starting on a Friday. The out-of-towners fly in on Thursday night so we can get straight into it on the Friday.

"Fortunately, we should have had quite a few games by the time the Cup starts," she said.

On top of regular club cricket for players in Auckland and Christchurch for many of the players there will also be games against three men's sides in Christchurch on October 2, 9 and 16.

Those games will then be followed by two trial matches to be played at Lincoln Green between Possibles and Probables sides on October 28 and 29.

New Zealand's side of 15 will then be named and will play three One-Day Internationals against England before the Cup starts. One of the games will be in Oamaru and two in Timaru.

"We want to make sure the team is peaking at the right time and not getting too wound up before the competition. We will prepare as best we can and while I can't go out there and bat and bowl for them, I want to make sure they follow a strategic plan when batting and fielding," Shrimpton said.

Shrimpton, who played 10 tests for New Zealand from 1962-63 to 1973-74, said the build-up has involved a "fairly long and protracted programme".

"It is quite a demanding exercise, planning for something six or seven months out. But it has been exciting," he said.

Before dispersing to their homes after the camp the team will attend a breakfast function in Christchurch on Monday to launch a new name and logo for their team.