Jess Kerr says the White Ferns are training well ahead of their opening World Cup match against Australia. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The White Ferns' Cricket World Cup preparation is aimed towards a big performance in their opening game against Australia on Wednesday.
The New Zealanders have got ready for the tournament in India and Sri Lanka with a training camp in Dubai and are now in India, with two warm-up games against Indian sides before taking on the Aussies - the defending champions and warm Cup favourites - in Indore.
Pace bowler Jess Kerr says the warm-up games - against India A on Thursday and the main Indian side on Saturday - are important for honing their skills and getting used to the conditions in India.
The Dubai camp included some warm-up games and helped them acclimatise to the heat.
"Obviously it's going to be hot here in India, so adapting to that was really good and just those game scenarios we had lots of different situations that we had to adapt to,'' Kerr said.
The warm-up games in Bengaluru this week will build on the preparation, which comes after a long lay-off for the national team, with their last match in March.
"We've not had a whole heap of that this year, so getting those sort of formulas in place, finding ways to win, which will be important.
"Everything's leading up to that first game and we want to be really clinical with what we can put out against Australia in game one."
Illing's inclusion brings excitement
While the White Ferns have a solid base of experience from the likes of skipper Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates, Lea Tahuhu and Melie Kerr, they have four players - Bree Illing, Flora Devonshire, Polly Inglis and Bella James - who are playing in their first World Cup.
White Ferns bowler Bree Illing during the 2nd One Day International against Sri Lanka, at Saxton Oval, Photo: Photosport
Jess Kerr, one of the senior pace bowlers, says it's exciting to have Illing at the Cup.
Illing, who turns 22 on Monday, burst on to the international scene in March, taking four wickets in her debut ODI series against Sri Lanka.
"She's offered such a point of difference being that left-armer and that extra bit of pace as well," said Kerr.
"She's had so much success in the domestic set up and already internationally too, so I know this World Cup will be awesome for her.
"Hopefully she can rely on us more experienced pace bowlers if she needs, but bringing her own strengths, that's what she needs to do and, and not comparing herself to what the others do."
Kerr herself is a leading all-rounder in the side, having put a lot of work into developing her batting in the last couple of years.
The 27-year-old took part in a batting camp in Chennai last month at the Chennai Super Kings Academy, led by White Ferns head coach Ben Sawyer and assistant coach Craig McMillan.
"Having been able to go to that batting camp in Chennai was of huge value.
"Just a lot of drilling and then a number of coaches who have experience of what works well in India."
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