Photo Credit: New Zealand Cricket
Former WHITE FERN Paula Winsor (née Flannery), and current domestic players; Holly Topp, Kate Ebrahim, and Sam Barriball (née Curtis) have all been announced in the 2023/24 intake of NZC’s ‘Pathway to Performance Female Coaching Programme’.
The Pathway to Performance Female Coaching Programme, now into its second year, aims to provide development opportunities to female coaches, specifically those who are currently coaching at the community level and aspire to develop and move into performance coaching roles.
Former WHITE FERN, Winsor will add valuable International playing experience to the group – having represented New Zealand in seventeen (17) Women’s ODI’s.
She now plies her trade as a club coach for Sydenham Cricket Club, where she has been coaching female teams since 2018 in addition to her full-time role as Upper South Island Regional Sports Coordinator with Special Olympics New Zealand.
Sam Barriball (28 appearances) and Kate Ebrahim (70 appearances) will also add their International playing experience to the group, having represented the WHITE FERNS in Women’s ODI & T20I.
When not scoring runs, taking wickets, teaching, or being a mother, Kate Ebrahim volunteers her time coaching the St Hilda’s Collegiate 1st XI in Dunedin, following several coaching roles in Central Districts and Canterbury.
Taranaki women’s representative, Amy Foreman, has been a valued contributor to cricket in Central Districts – having coached several female pathway teams for CD, Taranaki, and Sacred Heart Girls College in New Plymouth where she currently teaches.
NZC Head of Female Engagement, Jess Davidson, was thrilled with the standard of coach in this year’s intake.
“It is fantastic to have such a high calibre of applicants for the 2023/24 Pathway to Performance Programme,” said Davidson.
“Not only does the group have immense coaching and playing experience, but an array of professional knowledge with coaches qualified in areas of education, law, nutrition, criminology and psychology,” Davidson continued.
“The NZC Coach Development Team and I look forward to supporting this group of coaches as they progress through their coaching journey”.
Earlier this month, the group commenced the ten-month programme which features several in-person and virtual learning opportunities.
Find the full list of coaches below or click here for more information regarding the Pathway to Performance Programme.
2023/24 Pathway to Performance Programme Coaches
- Auckland Cricket: Amberly Parr
- Northern Districts: Holly Topp, Mereana Hyde, Samantha Barriball (ND/ACA)
- Central Districts: Amy Foreman
- Cricket Wellington: Sophie Telfer
- Canterbury Cricket: Paula Winsor, Katie Midwood
- Otago Cricket: Kate Ebrahim, Lucy McHutchon
Name of Author: New Zealand Cricket
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.
