Just asking for a friend who is deeply concerned about their recent record ahead of the T20 World Cup in the UAE next month.
The Sophie Devine-led team just registered their 10th consecutive loss in the format.
Their opponent for the last three was a formidable Australian lineup, so some concessions need to be made there.
And there are some positive signs the White Ferns are emerging from their long malaise. They were competitive in all three fixtures against the defending world champions.
But their track record this year does not inspire confidence.
They lost nine of their other 10 T20 matches, which were all against England.
Just as a side note, if you are only going to play Australia and England then you are going to stack up some losses.
Squashed in between the hit and giggle there has been some disappointment in the ODI arena as well.
They were beaten 3-0 by England in June. Earlier in the year they lost the home series against the same opponent 2-1.
There has not been a lot of joy in 2024.
Devine has laid the blame on a lack of depth and pointed the finger at the domestic competition.
She has a point.
Watch any women’s domestic game and you are likely to see half a dozen relatively simple catches grassed.
The skill level is commensurate with the interest New Zealand Cricket has shown the women’s game.
The national body is desperately playing catch up now and investing heavily in women’s domestic cricket, having previous ignored it for decades.
They have adopted a top-down model and are hoping by pouring money into the elite level it will increase the profile of the sport and encourage more women to take up the game.
It is not working, judging by the Otago experience.
The Otago Cricket Association launched a female league two years ago to great fanfare.
It was believed to be the first all-female league in the city in 40-odd years.
But it has fizzled out already.
The four teams struggled for players when the Sparks players were unavailable and last season was even harder going.
This summer the league has been abandoned and instead the four female teams will play under the University-Grange banner in various secondary school boys’ grades.
There is still a pathway there for female cricketers in the city which is good. But there is still a lot of work ahead to do to build up the grassroots.
You need good foundations to prop up a national team. The White Ferns will likely continue to struggle against the powerhouse international teams until they are underpinned by a proper grassroots programme.
White Ferns
T20 record in 2024
Sept 24: 5-wkt loss to Aus
Sept 22: 29-run loss to Aus
Sept 19: 5-wkt loss to Aus
July 18: 20-run loss to Eng
July 14: 7-wkt loss to Eng
July 12: 6-wkt loss to Eng
July 10: 23-run loss to Eng (DLS method)
July 7: 59-run loss to Eng
March 29: 5-wkt loss to Eng
March 27: 47-run loss to Eng
March 24: 3-run win against Eng
March 22: 15-run loss to Eng
March 19: 27-run loss to Eng
Played 13, won 1, lost 12
