In a colossal year for women's cricket in New Zealand, Merryn Anderson highlights five players under 21 who are ushering in the next era of the game.
They might not have been alive to witness one of New Zealand cricket's greatest moments at the turn of the century, but there's a new generation of young players now lighting up cricket grounds around the country.
The Super Smash competition wraps up this Saturday, when the winner of Thursday’s elimination final between the Otago Sparks and Auckland Hearts will take on the so-far undefeated Wellington Blaze.
The Blaze sit pretty at the top of the table, but the Sparks have been in good form of late, especially captain Suzie Bates, sitting on 426 runs this season - well clear of any player in both the men’s or women’s competitions.
It’s been a mixed domestic season for the women, Covid lockdowns impacting Auckland-based players, and the Northern Brave and Central Hinds struggling to find form - recording only one and two wins respectively.
However, the overall standard of cricket being played has seen a huge improvement, with big names stepping up and exciting new players stamping their mark on the competition.
With a home Cricket World Cup starting in March, the White Ferns selectors have some big decisions to make.
The last - and only - time the White Ferns hoisted the World Cup was in 2000; a wicket in the final over giving New Zealand a win over trans-Tasman rivals Australia before a home crowd at Lincoln.
Some names will be no-brainers for selection this time - Sophie Devine, Amelia Kerr and Bates all showing strong form on their return to the game in New Zealand.
But which names will usher in the next era of women’s cricket in New Zealand? Here are five players aged under 21 who've had standout performances this season.
Xara Jetly - Wellington Blaze
Jetly made history this season against the Northern Brave, bowling the most economical figures in the history of the women’s domestic league.
She took four wickets in three overs for only one run to dismiss the Brave for just 46 runs. The Blaze won that game by eight wickets, with 82 balls remaining; Jetly also taking a catch to remove Brave opener Caitlin Gurrey.
The 20-year-old Victoria University student has also been a standout in the field for the unbeaten Blaze side, with six catches. Jetly’s teammate Jess Kerr has the most wickets this season, with 16, but Jetly follows not far behind with 13 wickets from her right arm off-spin and an economy rate of 4.72.
“It all comes back to training, and it’s just practising the simple stuff. I love fielding, it’s my thing, I really enjoy it,” Jetly told Spark Sport after her record spell.
The Wellington Blaze side is full of young talent, including Georgia Plimmer (bottom left) and Xara Jelty (bottom right).
Georgia Plimmer - Wellington Blaze
Another developing Blaze player who's caught the eye of viewers this season is Georgia Plimmer. Opening the batting for all nine of Wellington’s games, the 17-year-old has withstood high pressure.
With Devine absent for the first seven matches, the Blaze haven’t missed a beat and won all their games with Plimmer at the top of the order.
Also exceptional in the field, the young opener, a recent graduate from Tawa College, has taken seven catches - second in the competition only to Bates - and her sharp arm is a danger to any opposing batswoman.
Izzy Gaze - Auckland Hearts
The Hearts have had a tough run with injuries and unavailable players this year, and Izzy Gaze (above, left) has been on the receiving end of a lot of changes. Moving from batting seventh, to opening, then back to seventh, Gaze has had a mixed bag with the bat, but has become Auckland’s first choice wicketkeeper.
Her best performance with the bat - 24 from 26 - included three fours, and came in an eight-run win over the Canterbury Magicians, where Gaze also made two clever stumpings.
At only 17 years old, and starting her studies in sport and recreation this year, her flexibility to be used at any point in the batting order and behind the stumps puts her in good stead to be a handy player for New Zealand in the future.
Eden Carson - Otago Sparks
Eden Carson first made headlines in 2020, taking a rare five-wicket haul in a T20 game against the Central Hinds. Her form has continued for Otago, the right arm off-spinner’s best an incredible 4-12 against Auckland, and also contributing 3-17 against Canterbury. The Sparks only dropped two games all season, both against Wellington, with Carson’s bowling dismissing the dangerous Jess Kerr in both games.
Carson’s 15 wickets place her just behind Jess Kerr for the season’s top wicket-taker, and her consistency with the ball puts the 20-year-old solidly in White Ferns contention for the near future.
Melissa Banks - Canterbury Magicians
Canterbury’s Missy Banks (pictured above, right) has leapt on the opportunity to get more game time for the Magicians this year, taking 14 wickets for her side. Her best performances with the ball include 4-29 against the Brave and 3-22 against Otago.
The women in the Super Smash have stepped up this season in the field, an area that's been lacking in the past. And Banks, who's training to be a teacher, is no exception, taking six catches and threatening batters with her accuracy and speed on direct hits. Banks took the important wicket of Devine in the 2021 grand final, and continues to nab key wickets for her side.
