Northern Districts women's cricket team

History

Northern Districts joined the New Zealand women's domestic structure in 1999–00, finishing bottom of the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield in their first year of competing. Northern Districts have consistently been one of the poorest performers in both the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield and the Twenty20 Super Smash, which began in 2007–08, and are the only current side to have not won a trophy.

Northern Districts' best finish in the Super Smash came in its inaugural season, when they finished 3rd with 3 wins. In 2019–20, they reached the final of the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield, but lost by 67 runs to Auckland, despite batter Felicity Leydon-Davis scoring 124. Northern Districts' Caitlin Gurrey was the leading run-scorer across the whole tournament, with 576 runs. In 2020–21, the side finished 4th in both competitions, with 5 wins in the Shield and 3 in the Super Smash.

On 9 October 2021, it was announced that the Northern Districts Cricket Association were combining the brands of the men's and women's teams for the Super Smash, with both teams becoming known as Northern Brave.

Grounds

Northern Districts' first match was played at St Paul's Collegiate Ground. Their primary ground soon became Westpac Trust Park, Hamilton, as well as using Wintech Park in the same city.

From 2005, Northern Districts began using Blake Park, Mount Maunganui (later Bay Oval) as their main home ground, as well as later using Cobham Oval, Whangārei and returning to Westpac Trust Park, now renamed Seddon Park. The side has also occasionally used St Peter's School, Cambridge, as well as returning to St Paul's Collegiate Ground. In 2021–22 and 2022–23, they played the majority of their home games at Seddon Park, as well as playing at Bay Oval and at Cobham Oval.

Players

Current squad

Based on squad announced for the 2023–24 season. Players in bold have international caps.

Notable players

Players who have played for Northern Districts and played internationally are listed below, in order of first international appearance (given in brackets):

• NZL Emily Drumm (1992)
• IRE Catherine O'Neill (1993)
• IRE Caitriona Beggs (1995)
• ENG Charlotte Edwards (1996)
• NZL Katie Pulford (1999)
• NZL Donna Trow (1999)
• SCO Kari Carswell (2001)
• ENG Mandie Godliman (2002)
• NZL Nicola Browne (2002)
• NZL Louise Milliken (2002)
• IRE Eimear Richardson (2005)
• NZL Ros Kember (2006)
• AUS Elyse Villani (2009)
• SL Chamari Athapaththu (2009)
• NZL Morna Nielsen (2010)
• NZL Natalie Dodd (2010)
• NZL Kelly Anderson (2011)
• Netherlands Kerry-Anne Tomlinson (2011)
• NZL Anna Peterson (2012)
• AUS Holly Ferling (2013)
• NZL Samantha Curtis (2014)
• NZL Holly Huddleston (2014)
• NZL Hayley Jensen (2014)
• NZL Felicity Leydon-Davis (2014)
• RSANZL Bernadine Bezuidenhout (2014)
• AUS Beth Mooney (2016)
• AUS Naomi Stalenberg (2016)
• AUS Amanda-Jade Wellington (2016)
• AUS Ashleigh Gardner (2017)
• NZL Jess Watkin (2018)
• SCO Katie McGill (2018)
• SIN Neisha Pratt (2018)
• NZL Caitlin Gurrey (2019)
• HKG Marina Lamplough (2019)
• SAM Regina Lili'i (2019)
• SAM Lily Mulivai (2019)
• NZL Brooke Halliday (2021)
• NZL Kate Anderson (2023)
• SAM Carol Agafili (2024)

Olympian Emma Twigg has also represented the team, fielding as the twelfth man in Northern Districts' final match of the 2021–22 Super Smash.

Coaching staff

• Head Coach: Joanna Broadbent

Honours

• Hallyburton Johnstone Shield:
  • Winners (0):
  • Best finish: Runners-up (2019–20)
• Women's Super Smash:
  • Winners (0):
  • Best finish: 3rd (2007–08)

Notes

References

References

1. "State Insurance Cup 1999–00 Table". CricketArchive.
2. Watkin, Evan. (October 2015). "The History of Women’s Domestic Cricket in New Zealand". [[Cricket Wellington]].
3. "State League Twenty20 2007–08 Table". CricketArchive.
4. "Grand Final, Hallyburton Johnstone Shield 2019–20, 14 March 2020". New Zealand Cricket.
5. "Batting and Fielding in Hallyburton Johnstone Shield 2019–20 (Ordered by Runs)". CricketArchive.
6. "Hallyburton Johnstone 2020–21 Table". CricketArchive.
7. "Dream11 Women's Super Smash 2020–21 Table". CricketArchive.
8. "Northern Districts Make Brave Change". Northern Districts.
9. "Women's List A Matches played by Northern Districts Women". CricketArchive.
10. "Women's Twenty20 Matches played by Northern Districts Women". CricketArchive.
11. "Women's Miscellaneous Matches played by Northern Districts Women". CricketArchive.
12. "Strong 2023-24 Contract List Announced for Northern Districts Women". Northern Districts.
13. "Northern Districts Women Players". CricketArchive.
14. "Emma Twigg keeps her oar in – but dabbles with a bat too". Stuff.
15. "Northern Districts Head Coaches Selected for 2020–21". Northern Districts.