Photo Credit: Auckland Cricket
New Zealand’s brightest young cricketers will showcase their skills at the Women’s and Men’s Gillette Under-19 National Tournaments, starting today in Christchurch.
The Gillette Venus Women’s Under-19 National Tournament runs from January 6-12 before the week-long Gillette Men’s Under-19 National Tournament starts on January 15.
NZC’s High Performance Talent and Pathways lead, Paul Wiseman, said the Gillette Under-19 National Tournaments were an integral part of the wider development picture.
“Both the Women’s and Men’s Under-19 tournaments are important for the growth of our young cricketers,” Wiseman said.
“Kane Williamson, Tim Southee and Trent Boult played Under-19 cricket together, and while it’s no means a prerequisite for playing international cricket, the tournaments provide a stage for some of our most exciting talent.”
Wiseman said the women’s tournament, having shifted from an Under-21 to Under-19 format two seasons ago, would still include some players with full representative experience.
“Players like Otago’s Molly Loe and Central Districts’ Ocean Bartlett have already represented their Major Associations this season.”
“Having players of that calibre at the tournament not only raises the profile but also gives others a chance to measure themselves against players who are performing at the next level.”
Photo Credit: LinkedIn profile photo of Paul Wiseman
“It’s exciting to see the level of talent coming through in the women’s game – and this tournament is a great place to showcase it.”
A women’s tournament team will be selected at the conclusion of the Gillette Venus Women’s Under-19 National Tournament, while some men’s players will feature in the Men’s New Zealand Development squad as part of their northern tour.
Both the Men’s and Women’s tournaments will be based at the NZC High Performance Centre in Lincoln, with one match a day played at St Andrew’s College in Christchurch.
The New Zealand national cricket team, known as the Black Caps, made their Test debut in 1930 against England in Christchurch, becoming the fifth nation to play Test cricket. After waiting 26 years for their first Test win against the West Indies in 1956, they also played their first ODI in 1972–73 against Pakistan. New Zealand are the inaugural World Test Championship champions (2021) and have won the ICC Champions Trophy (2000). They have reached the Cricket World Cup final twice and the T20 World Cup final once.
