Cricket: NZ Cricket players' association eager to develop Super Smash talent for next generation of White Ferns

"You can't improve, unless you play."

That's the call from the Cricket Players association, who are asking for more matches for players knocking on the door of the White Ferns. 

It comes at the conclusion of the Super Smash last week, which now leaves most of this country's top women with just a month's more cricket this summer.

 "Makes me feel like a dinosaur," Canterbury captain Frankie McKay told Newshub.  

"We have so many talented teenagers around, we just want to provide them with good quality cricket."   

But quality isn't the main issue. It's the quantity that has proved the sticking point. 

"The missing pieces is the number of games that the players play at the domestic level," said NZ Cricket players' association boss Heath Mills.

"They play 20 games a year." 

Although the Whites Ferns will go on to play many more, it's the level underneath them the association are looking to provide more opportunities for.

"More winter programmes for the next best group of players, but also improving the north and south competition that we have and hopefully more NZA type matches," Mills added. 

That's exactly the solution New Zealand Cricket is implementing - adding an extra 18 games internationally and domestically for this year. 

 "We're in discussions with other nations around 'A' tours, under-19 tours and emerging tours," said NZC head of women's high performance Liz Green.

"For us, that's really important."   

Because once a number of the experienced White Ferns step aside, their replacements need to be ready to step up, says Green.

"The exposure they're getting between domestic and international and playing other nations is only going to help their development," Green added. 

From the talent seen in action at the Super Smash, New Zealand has plenty of players with the potential to one day wear the white jersey.

"It's all there," said McKay. "The talent is there, the ability is there and I just think the world is their oyster for some of these kids coming through." 

"You can't improve, unless you play."

That's the call from the Cricket Players association, who are asking for more matches for players knocking on the door of the White Ferns. 

It comes at the conclusion of the Super Smash last week, which now leaves most of this country's top women with just a month's more cricket this summer.

 "Makes me feel like a dinosaur," Canterbury captain Frankie McKay told Newshub.  

"We have so many talented teenagers around, we just want to provide them with good quality cricket."   

But quality isn't the main issue. It's the quantity that has proved the sticking point. 

"The missing pieces is the number of games that the players play at the domestic level," said NZ Cricket players' association boss Heath Mills.

"They play 20 games a year." 

Although the Whites Ferns will go on to play many more, it's the level underneath them the association are looking to provide more opportunities for.

"More winter programmes for the next best group of players, but also improving the north and south competition that we have and hopefully more NZA type matches," Mills added. 

That's exactly the solution New Zealand Cricket is implementing - adding an extra 18 games internationally and domestically for this year. 

 "We're in discussions with other nations around 'A' tours, under-19 tours and emerging tours," said NZC head of women's high performance Liz Green.

"For us, that's really important."   

Because once a number of the experienced White Ferns step aside, their replacements need to be ready to step up, says Green.

"The exposure they're getting between domestic and international and playing other nations is only going to help their development," Green added. 

From the talent seen in action at the Super Smash, New Zealand has plenty of players with the potential to one day wear the white jersey.

"It's all there," said McKay. "The talent is there, the ability is there and I just think the world is their oyster for some of these kids coming through." 

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