The top New Zealand cricketers, both male and female, are getting ready to begin their training session from this week. It is going to be their first squad training after the stoppage due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has announced to organise six national camps in the next few months. New Zealand’s top male and female cricketers are gathering this week at the NZC High-Performance centre in Lincoln to begin the process of squad training. It is the first national camp in New Zealand cricket after the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
NZC stated, “New Zealand’s top male and female cricketers will return to squad trainings at the NZC High Performance centre in Lincoln this week, in the first of six national camps scheduled for the coming winter months.”
The players from South Island and Wellington will be present in this first national camp. Meanwhile, the second camp will be larger as the players from the northern side will start their squad training from 19th July at Bay Oval (Mount Maunganui).
The statement added, “The South Island and Wellington based BLACKCAPS and WHITE FERNS will train at the Canterbury hub this week, while a larger second camp for players further North will commence at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui from July 19.”
We are back! Our 1st post lockdown camp is underway in Lincoln. Players from @cricketwgtn, @CanterburyCrick and @OtagoVolts are attending the first camp with @aucklandcricket, @ndcricket and @CDCricket players getting set for a camp next week at @BayOvalOfficial #CricketNation pic.twitter.com/tyMcQKbX6V
— WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) July 13, 2020
New Zealand has handled the COVID-19 situation very well as it is one of the least affected countries in the world. While 1544 coronavirus cases have been reported in the country, 1497 people have already recovered from this virus.
New Zealand’s last international cricket match was in last March
New Zealand men’s last time played an international match on 13th March during the Sydney ODI against the hosts Australia where they lost by 71 runs. While it was the opening game of the three-match ODI series, the next two games were postponed amid coronavirus outbreak. Also, the Australia tour of New Zealand (for the three-match T20I series), Blackcaps’ Europe tour (Scotland, Netherlands and Ireland) have been postponed.
On the other hand, White Ferns’ played their last international match on 2nd March against Australia Women’s at Junction Oval, Melbourne (group stage in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020), where they suffered a four-run defeat.