An English view: Team take chance to enjoy delights of New Zealand

Claire Taylor

December 7, 2000

We had our first weekend off last weekend and there were plans afoot to see some of the beautiful countryside around Christchurch; getting our priorities right however, there was also shopping to do and some training - football training that is. Lottie's arranged a friendly (!) match against the Kiwis for sometime next week. She marshalled her troops over to the botanical gardens for some skills practice and final trials to select the eight-player squad.

On Sunday we headed down to breakfast at 6.20am; swimming 'cossies on and sun cream packed, as we were heading to Akaroa, a village on the Eastern coast of the island. Jane Cassar (whose birthday is later on in the tour) loves dolphins and we were going to Akaroa to swim with some Hector dolphins, but she didn't know... we'd "accidentally" let it slip out that we were going to see the set of Shortland Street! A cunning plan until you actually think about 16 of us being that interested in the NZ medical drama that we'd get up at first light to visit the set!

Swimming in the open waters with these amazing creatures was fantastic, the 20-minute journey back into harbour in wet wetsuits on the open back of the boat less so. Even Connor's infamous big toes turned a deathly white colour! On Monday we travelled out of the city to our home for the rest of the tour, Lincoln University. We're staying in student accommodation on campus, eating in halls and playing all of our matches within the university grounds. The facilities are great and, as a player, it is very good to have everything on the one site.

Tuesday saw the opening ceremony and, on-cue, some awful weather. We walked out in our blazers to the strains of the National Anthem, smiling despite the challenges of Maori Warriors and driving rain. Once each team had taken their seats on the stage each captain went up onto the stage for the "Honki" with the tribal leaders, this involves touching noses and is the formal part of the Maori welcome. Watching the Maori's dance and sing was very stirring stuff, an indication that we were finally at the CricInfo Women's World Cup, something that I've been aiming at for 3 years.

And then the play began... the opening match between Australia and New Zealand "only" had a delayed start, this thanks to the tireless work of the groundsmen who were up through the night with the "Super-Sopper".

Our first match against Holland was very good for the team, featuring a dominating innings from Charlotte Edwards, Barbara Daniels getting good runs and some excellent bowling from Sarah Collyer. There is no doubt that we have things to work on but it was important to get back into winning ways. As our maxim says, we're "happy but never satisfied!"

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Players/Umpires

Claire Taylor

Series/Tournaments

CricInfo Women's World Cup

England Women tour of New Zealand

Teams

England