With a little less than 100 days to go for the 2022 ICC Women’s World Cup, the eight competing teams are gearing themselves to be the World Cup Champions. While Australia, India, England, South Africa are the four favorites after qualifying through the 2017-2020 ICC Women’s Championship, Bangladesh, West Indies, and Pakistan who qualified based on their ranking after the qualifiers were abandoned due to the new Covid-19 variant, are not to be left behind.
However, above all the most benefited in terms of understanding the playing condition and the pitch is obviously the host, New Zealand. What’s interesting is the only World Cup title New Zealand has won was the last time they hosted it which was way back in 2000 when the then captain Emily Drumm led the team to a four-run victory in a nail-biting thriller which saw the then Australian captain Belinda Clark smashing 91 but failing to get support from her teammates.
Following the success of the 2000 World Cup at home, the White Ferns are looking forward to repeating the feat yet again when they host the 2022 edition of the World Cup. The International Cricket Council (ICC) shared the excitement of the White Fern’s batting all-rounder, Amy Satterthwaite, on their official website where she talks about watching the 2000 victory as a youngster with a dream to be there herself one day.
Further, she also talks about the opportunity to host the big tournament which she finds as a good chance to motivate the youth to take up the sport especially when women’s cricket is getting increasing attention.
The Black Caps legend Sir Richard Hadlee also spoke in support of Satterthwaite’s statement saying, “From a New Zealand point of view, the greatest legacy would be to win it! I’ve watched our New Zealand women’s teams for 40 odd years, the skillsets and fitness and how they play the game is absolutely outstanding. I’ve seen the women’s game grow dramatically and I think people should come along and be enthralled at the spectacle,”
New Zealand’s cricket legend Sir Richard Hadlee is backing the White Ferns to create their own legacy with New Zealand fans in the upcoming World Cup. #CWC22 pic.twitter.com/e2N2S6bN99
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) November 27, 2021
“We’re developing an indoor sports centre just behind the pavilion at Hagley for schools and clubs, if those boys and girls can be motivated by watching the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup games at Hagley and developing their game, then it’s a win-win.”, he said.
Adding to the opportunity White Ferns have got, Satterthwaite also commented on the role a home crowd plays for a team and shares her excitement to have people in the host cities- Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin.
Satterthwaite said, “You can’t underestimate the value of having people there – when you do play in front of crowds it makes it all the more exciting and special, it can really lift you as an individual and a team, especially a home crowd, when they get behind you, I truly believe it lifts you,”
“There’s also the opportunity to be a world champion – not everyone gets the chance, and we won’t be taking that for granted.”
She also appreciated the partnership with PORSE which is one of New Zealand’s leading brands of home-based childcare and will provide pop-up free childcare at all 31 matches, thus allowing families to enjoy an exciting cricketing season without worrying much about their child.
Sir Richard Hadlee also said that “New Zealand are certainly in the mix; they know they’ll have work to do, and belief will be part of that.”
The World Cup begins from 4th March 2022 with New Zealand in action in the opening match. The semi-finals would take place on 30th and 31st and the Finals on 3rd April.
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