• Australia clinches Rose Bowl, 7 March 2010, Sportal

  Australia completed its second Rose Bowl victory in a month after beating New Zealand by six wickets in the third game of the latest series in Invercargill on Sunday.

  It was the eighth-straight one-day international victory over New Zealand for the Australians.

  The White Ferns batted first by choice and were dismissed in 44 overs for 173.

  Sara McGlashan's 46 was the only innings of significance in the effort with Sophie Devine's 24 the next best.

  Lisa Sthalekar was in outstanding touch to take 5-35 from eight overs with Julie Hunter taking 2-35 from six overs.

  Australia was relatively untroubled as it raced to 35 off five overs before Leah Poulton was dismissed for 31 while Shelley Nitschke was dismissed for six four runs later.

  But then 64 runs were posted by Alex Blackwell (44) and Sarah Elliott (56 not out) to help safely guide Australia to 4-174 with nearly 13 overs to spare.

• Stars [level] Rose Bowl, 6 March 2010, Sportal

  The Commonwealth Bank Southers Stars levelled the Rose Bowl Series with their seventh consecutive one-day international victory over New Zealand in Invercargill by six wickets on Saturday.

  Shelley Nitschke led Australia to the victory with a superb unbeaten century as the visitors chased down the required target with over two overs to spare.

  The result is somewhat surprising considering the Aussies were white-washed 5-0 in the Twenty20 matches [split over the home Rosebowl series, 3-0, and this away Rosebowl series, 2-0].

  The White Ferns' failure to transfer their impressive form from the shortened version to the 50-over format is perplexing.

  New Zealand lost five ODIs in Australia and dropped the first match, of the three ODI matches of this Rosebowl series, by two wickets in Queenstown on Wednesday.

  On Saturday, Amy Satterthwaite top scored with 81 and combined with first-drop all-rounder Suzie Bates (61) in a steady 114-run partnership to resurrect the home side's innings after the quick departures of openers Katey Martin (14) and Victoria Lind (21). While Sara McGlashan's quick-fire 34 off 30 balls saw New Zealand post a decent, but modest 8-255.

  But Australia made light work of its run chase, led by outstanding South Australian Nitschke, who made a composed 113 not out from 130 balls to help the visitors reach its target with 15 balls to spare and [level the series at 2-2].

  Nitschke was well supported by Sarah Elliot (59) as the pair battened down the hatches with a 108-run stand.

  Earlier, right-arm-medium pace seamer Julie Hunter ripped through the New Zealand batting line-up, claiming 3-40 from eight overs.

  Australia will be looking to seal a clean sweep [of the ODI matches] in the final game of the Rose Bowl Series in Invercargill on Sunday.

• Cameron guides Stars home, 3 March 2010, Sportal

  Jessica Cameron's 68 carried Australia to a two-wicket, last-ball, win over New Zealand's White Ferns in Queenstown on Wednesday.

  New Zealand batted first after winning the toss and reached 6-228 despite a calamitous top-order display where only Victoria Lind achieved double figures in her 100-ball innings of 68 runs. She was the last of the New Zealanders to be dismissed at 159, the sixth wicket to fall, in the 41st over.

  However, Sophie Devine and Nicola Browne added 69 runs to set a competitive total. Devine was 74 not out, from 82 balls with seven fours and two sixes while Browne was 26 not out from 24 balls.

  Ellyse Perry was the pick of Australia's bowlers, taking 2-44 from her 10 overs while Julie Hunter was economical with 1-38 from her 10.

  Australia made a slightly better start and managed several good partnerships to keep the momentum of its innings going. Shelley Nitschke hit 51 from 70 balls, Rachael Haynes 23 and Perry 27 to round out Cameron's effort.

  However, there was high tension in the air with Cameron dismissed with nine balls left and 15 runs still required. It took Erin Osborne to hit 13 runs from 10 balls, and Hunter six from three, to help the side to a fine win.

• White Ferns outdo Stars, 28 February 2010, Sportal

  New Zealand's White Ferns found the going much tougher in the second Twenty20 match with Australia played at AMI Stadium on Sunday afternoon, but still managed a 17-run win.

  New Zealand chose to bat first but lost its first two wickets before a run was scored and then its third with only five runs on the board.

  Sara McGlashan hit 16 while Amy Satterthwaite totalled 42 from 47 balls. But the only other double figure contribution came from No.10 batsman Rachel Priest who scored 14 not out.

  Ellyse Perry took 3-14 from her four overs while Lisa Sthalekar took 2-16.

  However, Australia soon found there had been a reason behind New Zealand's inability to post a big total. Of its players only Shelley Nitschke showed anything like the ability needed to challenge the home team in scoring 45 from 51 balls.

  Jessica Cameron, with 16, was the only other player in double figures.

  Suzie Bates again showed her class with the ball in taking 3-24 from her four overs while Sophie Devine took 2-19.

• NZ draws first blood, 26 February 2010, Sportal

  New Zealand's White Ferns beat Australia by 59 runs in a low-scoring Twenty20 match at Wellington's Westpac Stadium on Friday.

  Australia was dismissed for 73, its lowest total in Twenty20 cricket.

  The game was staged in association with the opening Twenty20 match between the men's sides of the two rivals.

  New Zealand batted first and posted 7-132 in its 20 overs, the innings dominated by Suzie Bates, who scored 48 from 40 balls while down the order Sophie Devine scored 28 from 22 before being run out with three balls remaining.

  Rachael Haynes achieved the best figures of her seven-game career, taking 3-19 with her left-arm medium pace bowling.

  Kate Pulford struck early for the hosts by having both Australian openers back in the pavilion after five overs with only 16 runs posted.

  Shelley Nitschke's 12 was improved only by Ellyse Perry's 15 as Australia slumped to be all out for 73 halfway through the 16th over.

  Pulford finished with 2-21 from her four overs, while Aimee Watkins bowled only nine balls and claimed 3-8. Bates capped a good game by taking 1-4 from her two overs while Nicola Browne bowled her four overs and took 1-10.

• Southern Stars on Fox, 25 February 2010

  The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars can be seen taking on New Zealand live on Fox Sports from Friday After a 3-0 whitewash by the White Ferns in the recent Twenty20 series, the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars will be looking to take revenge in New Zealand, with the action to be screened on Fox Sports.

  The 3-0 scoreline was a surprise given that the Southern Stars had completed a 5-0 whitewash in the ODI series that immediately preceded the Twenty20 series, and with the ICC World Twenty20 in the Caribbean on the horizon the Australians will be keen to hit their straps.

  White Fern Sophie Devine has been a thorn in Australia's side in recent times and the Southern Stars will be keen to curb her influence with both bat and ball. For the Southern Stars the reigning player of the year Shelley Nitschke is having another stellar season, while young gun Ellyse Perry has stepped up to become the undisputed leader of the bowling attack. Both Perry and Nitschke will be keys to Australia's build up to the World Twenty20.

  The two games will be played as double headers with the Australia v New Zealand men's matches.

  • Friday 26 February: Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars v New Zealand starts at 12.30pm on Fox Sports 1.
  • Sunday 28 February: Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars v New Zealand starts at 11.30am on Fox Sports 2.

• Ferns pip Stars, 23 February 2010, Sportal

  The Australian Southern Stars have fallen to the White Ferns for the third time in succession in the third and final Twenty20 match at Bellerive Oval on Tuesday night.

  Once again it went down to the wire between these two evenly-matched teams with the Kiwis overcoming the home side by seven runs in the final over.

  Australia needed 14 runs off the final six deliveries to win, but for the second time in three games the Aussies failed to keep their head in the final stages when Alyssa Healy was stumped on the fourth ball of the twentieth over by Rachel Priest off the bowling of Suzie Bates.

  The result was sealed when Rachael Haynes ran herself out the next ball to leave the home side short of the White Ferns total of 7-141.

  Earlier, the Kiwis were well served by Maria Fahey who top-scored with a brisk 42 off 45 balls to help the visitors to a competitive total.

  For the Aussies it was once again Shelley Nitschke who was leading the way, top-scoring with 56 to go along with her two wickets.

• White Ferns win again, 22 February 2010, Sportal

  New Zealand has continued its strong Twenty20 form with a second win in as many days against the Southern Stars at Bellerive Oval on Monday.

  Despite being comprehensively outplayed in the five one-dayers, the White Ferns bounced back to easily defeat Australia by five wickets to make it two wins in a row after Sunday's thrilling two-run victory.

  New Zealand easily chased down the Stars' total of 7-115 with 19 balls to spare and five wickets in hand.

  Skipper Aimee Watkins got the visitors off to an ideal start with 36 off 38 balls before all-rounder Sophie Devine guided her side home with a superb 48 off 31.

  The pair combined for 75 runs after the White Ferns were struggling at 2-18 in the fifth over.

  Both were removed in quick succession, but the damage had been done as the tourists cruised to the victory target.

  Ellyse Perry was Australia's best bowler again with 2-17, while Lisa Sthalekar (1-20), Rene Farrell (1-23) and Shelley Nitschke (1-23) were the other wicket takers.

  Earlier, Leah Poulton and Nitschke for Australia's innings off to a solid start with 43 runs on the board inside six overs.

  But when Poulton was dismissed for 24, the run rate slowed and although captain Alex Blackwell added 40 runs, the rest of the middle order fell cheaply.

  Devine was the chief destroyer with 3-24, while Suzie Bates took 2-20.

  The final match of the Rose Bowl series will be played under lights on Tuesday before the two sides travel to New Zealand to play two more Twenty20s and three one-dayers.

• Ferns win a close one, 21 February 2010, Sportal

  The New Zealand White Ferns have finally broken through for their first win of the Rose Bowl series against the Southern Stars in dramatic fashion in Hobart on Sunday.

  The visitors set a target of 118 off 20 overs for the Stars to chase and the contest went down to the final ball with the Aussies needing three runs to win.

  But Alyssa Healy fell to a spectacular catch by New Zealand wicketkeeper Rachel Priest off the bowling of Nicola Browne to deliver the Kiwis a much-needed win.

  Earlier the New Zealanders compiled a competitive target thanks to the efforts of Aimee Watkins who blasted 44 at the top of the order to help the White Ferns to 7-117.

  Shelley Nitschke top-scored for the home side in reply with 46 to go along with bowling figures of 2-14, but Sophie Devine (2-22) and the rest of her team were equal to the task to steal a famous win.

• Stars eye Twenty20 dominance, 20 February 2010, Ben Sutton, Sportal

  The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars will be looking to continue their dominance over New Zealand when the Rose Bowl series continues with three Twenty20 matches in Tasmania.

  The Stars dominated the Kiwis in the five one-dayers, only really tested in one of the matches, where they prevailed by four wickets in a rain-marred second game, but even then New Zealand only managed a score of 142.

  In fact, the Aussie bowlers have been mightily impressive in reducing the tourists to scores of 126, 142, 136, 163 and 137 in the five matches.

  Opening bowler Ellyse Perry underlined her status as one of the best players in the world with eight wickets in her past two matches, while all-rounder Shelley Nitschke took her wicket tally to 11 with a superb 4-24 in the 103-run victory on Thursday.

  With Lisa Sthaleker missing the fifth one-dayer, Julia Hunter made her debut and picked up her first international wicket when she had Natalie Dodd caught by Jess Cameron.

  While the bowlers have been getting the job done, that batters have been just as impressive.

  Opener Leah Poulton smashed an unbeaten century to guide the Stars to a 10-wicket victory in game four and after the top order failed on Thursday, Rachael Haynes came in No.5 to blast a cracking 75 from just 74 balls to help Australia to 240. Nitshcke also stood with a solid 43 after Poulton and Alex Blackwell both fell cheaply.

  With the Aussies recording comfortable victories in the five one-dayers, there is little to suggest that the trend will change going into the shorter format of the game.

  The two sides will clash on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday at Bellerive Oval with the first match to be broadcast live on Channel 9 before the men take on the West Indies.

• Unbeaten run continues, 18 February 2010

  The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars have continued their unbeaten run with yet another comprehensive win over New Zealand in match five of the Rose Bowl Series at Junction Oval in Melbourne today.

  The 103-run win takes the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars' series lead to 5-0 with three Twenty20 matches in Hobart remaining.

  Australia captain Alex Blackwell won the toss and batted first but the match was reduced to 45 overs per innings after a delay at the start of the day due to unsuitable pitch conditions.

  Rachael Haynes' 75 not out from 74 deliveries was the standout performance in Australia's 8-240. Haynes came to the crease with the score at 4-93 and paced her innings beautifully with a steadying partnership with Jess Cameron to lift the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars into a strong position.

  After Cameron's run out and the quick exit of Alyssa Healy, Ellyse Perry joined Haynes at the crease and the pair took the match away from New Zealand for the second time in the series with a seventh-wicket partnership of 57 from 35 balls.

  Shelley Nitschke was again a consistent performer with the bat with 43 while Cameron's 33 and Perry's 30 from 22 balls were instrumental in building the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars' impressive score given the reduction in overs.

  In reply, the White Ferns' top order was again unable to set a stable platform with their top three batters dismissed inside the first nine overs despite scoring at a healthy run rate.

  The highlight of this period for the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars was debutante Julie Hunter's first international wicket. She had Natalie Dodd caught by Cameron for 12 as New Zealand dropped to 3-43.

  Nitschke was then introduced into the attack and destroyed the New Zealand middle order with 4-24 from nine overs.

  Perry (3-33) again cleaned up the tail as New Zealand was bowled out for 137, their fifth straight heavy defeat of the series.

  The series now switches to Twenty20 mode with three matches at Bellerive Oval in Hobart on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

  Sunday's match will be screened live on Channel 9 in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane from 3pm-5pm before the men's KFC Twenty20 International, with former Commonwealth Bank Southern Star Melanie Jones joining the commentary team.

  Viewers in other areas should check their local guides for broadcast details.

  New Zealand will bring a number of new players into their squad for the Twenty20 matches, while Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars will go into these matches unchanged.

• Southern Stars retain Rosebowl, 17 February 2010, CA

  The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars have retained the Rose Bowl after career-best performances from Ellyse Perry and Leah Poulton steered them to a 10-wicket win over New Zealand at Junction Oval today.

  Perry's 5-31, her first five-wicket haul in international cricket, was complemented beautifully by Poulton's unbeaten 104, her highest score for Australia.

  The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars have now taken a 4-0 series lead and as current holders of the Rose Bowl, they will retain the trophy regardless of the outcome of the four remaining matches in the series.

  It was another emphatic display with bat and ball from the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars, with the victory target of 163 chased down inside 33 overs by openers Poulton and Shelley Nitschke.

  After a cautious start to the run chase, Poulton exploded as she and Nitschke set about overhauling the target that would ensure the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars retained the Rose Bowl.

  Poulton's second one-day international century came from just 115 balls and included nine fours and three towering sixes.

  Nitschke, who was named the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars' player of the year at the Allan Border Medal earlier this week, produced another strong all-round performance with 44 not out and 2-29 with the ball.

  Earlier, Perry spearheaded the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars' effort with the ball. She inflicted the early damage with the wickets of New Zealand captain Aimee Watkins and Sara McGlashan before returning late in the innings to clean up the tail.

  Katey Martin was best for the White Ferns with 25 but she and a number of New Zealand's batters weren't able to convert their starts into a big score. After a bright start to their innings, New Zealand lost 3-0 in 12 balls to fall to 3-36 in the ninth over.

  The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars seized the initiative and bowled New Zealand out for 162 in the 49th over.

• Stars look for sweep, 15 February 2010, Sportal

  With the one-day series already wrapped up, the Southern Stars will be looking to follow the lead of their male counterparts by sweeping the White Ferns in the final two games in Melbourne.

  The Australians have only been tested in one match so far, when they prevailed by four wickets in a rain-marred second game last week but even in that clash New Zealand could manage only 142 as they crashed inside 38 overs.

  In fact, so dominant has the display been from the Australian bowlers that the Kiwis have managed scores of only 126, 142 and 136 as they were dismissed in 36.1 overs, 37.3 overs and 41.1 overs respectively.

  Lisa Sthalekar now has seven wickets in the series after another superb performance that saw her grab 2-19 from eight overs while opening bowlers Ellyse Perry and Sarah Andrews have also done their job by picking up five wickets each.

  Having Shelley Nitschke also underlined her all-round abilities on Sunday with 3-31 from 10 overs, giving her five scalps also and while she missed out with the bat she has two scores in the 30s at the top of the order.

  The star of the show on Sunday for the Southern Stars though was Alex Blackwell, who scored 92 from 119 balls with seven fours to lay the foundation for Australia's 7-238. Blackwell now has 177 runs at a strike-rate of 76.29.

  Sarah Elliott also made 62 and Rachael Haynes chimed in with 34 batting at No.6 having earlier opened the innings with Nitschke, when she contributed scores of 56 and eight.

  With two matches left in the series before the teams clash in three Twenty20 games at Bellerive Oval on February 21, 22 and 23, the Southern Stars will be confident of taking out Wednesday and Thursday's matches at St Kilda Cricket Ground.

• Stars look to roll on, 12 February 2010, Sportal

  Fresh from a pair of wins in Adelaide, the Southern Stars will be looking to build a solid lead in the Rose Bowl series when they clash with the White Ferns in Melbourne on Sunday.

  Australia has been in devastating form with the ball so far, skittling New Zealand for just 126 in 36.1 in the opening game to claim a 115-run win and then dismissing it for 142 in 37.3 overs in the second match en route to a four-wicket triumph.

  Lisa Sthalekar has been the leading wicket-taker with 3-25 from eight overs and then 2-21 from seven in the first two games and opening bowlers Elise Perry and Sarah Andrews have grabbed four wickets each as the Kiwi top order has been dominated.

  And while there were some nervous moments late in the chase for the Southern Stars on Thursday when they lost 3-1 and then later 2-1 chasing the revised target of 111 in 32 overs, the batting has largely stood up as well.

  Rachael Haynes top-scored with 56 in the first game while fellow opener Shelley Nitschke has contributed scores of 35 and 38 and No.3 Alex Blackwell has also fired with knocks of 51 and 34.

  But while the top order has been in good touch middle order batters Sarah Elliott and Sthalekar will be keen to take their chances more having scored nine and five runs respectively in the two games.

  Medium pacer Amy Satterthwaite might also be thrown the ball a little early for New Zealand having taken a combined five wickets so far in the series even though she has been the seventh and sixth bowler called on.

  With the bat too much has been left to too few by the visitors, with No.8 Katey Martin top-scoring in the first game with 35 and then backing up with 22 while No.3 Victoria Lind has managed scores of 19 and 33.

  The White Ferns will be desperate to lift on their first two outings in order to fight back in the Rose Bowl series which will also include Twenty20 matches.

• Stars win again, 11 February 2010, Sportal

  The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars have taken a 2-0 lead in the Rose Bowl Series with a four-wicket win in a rain-affected one-day international against New Zealand at Adelaide Oval on Thursday.

  After dismissing New Zealand cheaply for 142, the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars were in a good position at 1-34 in the 11th over when rain forced players from the field. When play resumed, the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars' victory target was reduced to 110 from 32 overs.

  Captain Alex Blackwell and vice-captain Shelley Nitschke weren't fazed by the extended delay and they systematically set about the run chase after the resumption, adding 45 for the second wicket before Nitschke's innings ended on 38.

  By that stage the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars were in a commanding position needing just 32 from 12 overs. Two wickets in as many balls soon after Nitschke's exit gave New Zealand hope, but the victory target was achieved with 13 balls and four wickets to spare.

  After winning the toss on Wednesday and watching the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars pile on the runs, New Zealand decided to bat first when the coin fell captain Aimee Watkins' way for the second day in a row.

  The decision to bat didn't bring a change of batting fortunes for New Zealand however as the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars attack again dominated with the first five wickets falling for 89.

  Sarah Andrews did the early damage removing both openers cheaply before the spin of Lisa Sthalekar ended Victoria Lind's promising knock on 33 from 32 balls. Sthalekar and Nitschke then tore through the White Ferns middle order as they slumped to 7-120.

  For the second time in as many days, the New Zealand innings finished in the 38th over with Lind and Katey Martin the main contributors.

  The honours were evenly shared for the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars with Andrews, Ellyse Perry, Sthalekar and Nitschke claiming two wickets each.

• Easy win for Stars, 10 February 2010, Sportal

  The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars have taken a 1-0 lead in the Rose Bowl series against New Zealand, defeating the White Ferns by 115 runs at the Adelaide Oval.

  Australia batted first and was dismissed for 241 but never looked in trouble defending that total, routing New Zealand for 126. Rachael Haynes top scored with 56 for the home side, while Lisa Sthalekar led the bowlers with 3-25.

  New Zealand won the toss and elected to bowl but it looked to be a bad decision as Haynes and Shelley Nitschke added 102 for the first wicket in 20 overs. Nitschke's innings came to an end on 35 when she hit an easy shot to mid-off from the bowling of Emma Campbell (1-19).

  Haynes fell soon after through a similar shot, but off the bowling of Aimee Watkins (2-42) with the score on 112 and when Sarah Elliott fell for eight, also off Watkins, and Sthalekar for five off Amy Satterthwaite (2-52), the Stars had lost 4-42.

  Alex Blackwell (51) and Lauren Ebsary (19) steadied the ship, guiding Australia to 4-201 before both were run out off consecutive balls. However, that didn't slow the momentum as Alyssa Healy made a spectacular debut with fours off her first three balls.

  She would compile 21 off 11 balls before holing out in the deep of Satterthwaite, triggering a lower-order collapse of 4-13 that brought the innings to a close with 16 balls remaining.

  After Watkins and Kate Pulford added 20 for the first wicket, things quickly went awry for the White Ferns, who lost 3-2 between the fifth and eighth overs. Watkins was the first to fall, trapped by Ellyse Perry (2-25) for one before Pulford (19) and Nicola Browne (0) both fell in the same Sarah Andrews over.

  Sthalekar then put Australia in a powerful position when she took wickets in three straight overs, removing Victoria Lind (19), Sara McGlashan (two) and Maria Fahey (one) to have New Zealand 7-60.

  The Kiwi tail wagged with Katy Martin scoring 35 and Sophie Devine 19, but they were fighting a losing battle and the win was wrapped up when Perry bowled Campbell for six with the first ball of the 37th over.

• Australia after first-up win, 10 February 2010, Steve Orme, Sportal

  Alex Blackwell The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars will be desperate to make a winning start to the post-Karen Rolton era when they begin their defence of the Rose Bowl with a double-header against the New Zealand White Ferns at Adelaide Oval.

  But it won't be easy for the hosts.

  These two fierce rivals are scheduled to play five one-day internationals and three Twenty20 internationals in the coming weeks, with the limited-overs series set to commence on Wednesday.

  The Southern Stars currently hold the Rose Bowl after the 2009 series finished in a 2-2 draw when rain abandoned the deciding match, while 2008 was an equally tight affair with Australia prevailing 3-2 in a hard-fought series on home soil.

  The Kiwis sought some revenge with a win over Australia in the group stage of the 2009 ICC Women's World Cup in what was the most recent meeting between the sides.

  With a host of new faces featuring in the upcoming series on either side, the opening two clashes in the City of Churches takes on extra significance as both camps look to begin new eras on a winning note.

  For the hosts, Rolton's retirement is compounded by the loss of captain Jodie Fields with a serious hamstring injury suffered during the recently-completed Women's National Cricket League.

  Alex Blackwell will lead a new-look side into battle with 19-year-old Alyssa Healy to make her international debut behind the stumps in the skipper's absence.

  The visitors' squad of 14 includes 10 members of the 2009 World Cup squad that lost to England in the final, with gun batter Suzie Bates the most notable omission from the squad.

  Bates is unavailable for the ODI series due to her commitments with Australian Women's National Basketball League side Logan Thunder but will join her team-mates for the Twenty20 fixtures beginning on February 21.

  Leg spinner Emma Campbell, top-order specialist Natalie Dodd and left-arm spinner Morna Nielsen are all in line to make their international debuts as part of a strong squad featuring an obvious blend of youth and experience.

  Southern Stars: Alex Blackwell NSW (c), Shelley Nitschke SA (vc), Sarah Andrews NSW, Jessica Cameron VIC, Lauren Ebsary WA, Sarah Elliott VIC, Rene Farrell WA, Rachael Haynes VIC, Alyssa Healy NSW, Julie Hunter VIC, Erin Osborne NSW, Ellyse Perry NSW, Leah Poulton NSW, Lisa Sthalekar NSW.

  White Ferns: Aimee Watkins (c), Nicola Browne, Abby Burrows, Emma Campbell, Sophie Devine, Natalie Dodd, Maria Fahey, Victoria Lind, Sara McGlashan, Katey Martin, Morna Nielsen, Kate Pulford, Sian Ruck, Amy Satterthwaite.

• Squad for Rose Bowl Series Announced, 21 January 2010

  The Cricket Australia Women’s National Selection Panel (WNSP) has today named a 14-player squad to play New Zealand in the Rose Bowl Series from 10-23 February in Adelaide, Melbourne and Hobart.

  The squad is:

  • Alex Blackwell NSW (c)
  • Shelley Nitschke SA (vc)
  • Sarah Andrews NSW
  • Jessica Cameron VIC
  • Lauren Ebsary WA
  • Sarah Elliott VIC
  • Rene Farrell WA
  • Rachael Haynes VIC
  • Alyssa Healy NSW
  • Julie Hunter VIC
  • Erin Osborne NSW
  • Ellyse Perry NSW
  • Leah Poulton NSW
  • Lisa Sthalekar NSW

  Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars captain Jodie Fields was unavailable for selection after she suffered a serious hamstring injury during Saturday night’s Women’s Twenty20 match between the Konica Minolta Queensland Fire and Western Fury at the Gabba.

  WNSP Chair Christina Matthews said:

  Despite Karen Rolton’s recent retirement and Jodie’s unfortunate injury, the WNSP has selected a versatile squad which we feel is capable of retaining the Rose Bowl. The series is an important one for the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars as we prepare for the ICC World Twenty20 in the West Indies in April and May.

  Alex Blackwell will take over from Jodie as captain for the Rose Bowl Series and we expect she will form a strong leadership partnership with new vice-captain Shelley Nitschke.

  Jodie’s injury also provides a deserved opportunity for Alyssa Healy to make her international debut. Alyssa has been identified for higher honours for a number of years and now gets the chance display her wicket-keeping skills and attacking batting on the international stage.

  Julie Hunter has been a regular wicket-taker in both the Women’s National Cricket League and interstate Twenty20 competition this season for the VicSpirit and has emerged as an exciting new-ball prospect.

  Sarah Elliot returns to the national squad after missing selection last year. Sarah’s form throughout the course of the summer with bat and ball has been a driving force in VicSpirit’s continued success and she thoroughly deserves another chance to represent the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars.

  Speaking on Karen Rolton’s retirement, Matthews said:

  Karen’s contribution to Australian women’s cricket over so many years was extraordinary. She’s undoubtedly one of the greatest players in the history of the game in both Test and one-day formats.

  Her performances at international level were of a consistently high standard and the next generation of Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars have now been set the challenge to try and match her achievements.

  Commenting on Jodie Fields’ injury, Cricket Australia’s Case and Rehabilitation Manager Kevin Simms said:

  Jodie Fields suffered a serious injury to her left hamstring while playing for the Konica Minolta Queensland Fire on Saturday night.

  A scan over weekend revealed she had suffered a serious tear that will require surgery. Jodie is likely to be out for an extended period and her date of return is unclear. Her return to cricket will depend on her recovery from surgery.

  About the Rose Bowl Series

  In 2009-10, the Rose Bowl will feature five one-day internationals and three Twenty20 Internationals. The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars are the current holders of the trophy after the most recent series between the teams in early 2009 finished 2-2 after the final clash was abandoned due to rain.

  Following the Rose Bowl Series, the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars will travel to New Zealand for return matches against the White Ferns.

  A Twenty20 Series has been introduced to the Rose Bowl this season to help the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars prepare for the ICC World Twenty20 in the West Indies in May 2010 and to provide additional international matches for the team in the shortest form of the game.

  In previous years, the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars have played single Twenty20 matches before or after their one-day international series. However CA’s move to formalise the structure of Twenty20™ cricket played at an international level recognises its potential in promoting the women’s game and the growing number of matches being played around the world.

  For the third year in a row, the women’s international season will be highlighted by a double-header Twenty20™ International fixture involving the Australian men’s and women’s teams. On Sunday 21 February at Bellerive Oval, the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars will play New Zealand in a women’s Twenty20™ International before the men’s KFC Twenty20 International between Australia and West Indies.

• Plenty of new faces in New Zealand squad, Cricinfo staff, 19 January 2010

  Legspinner Erin Birmingham and allrounder Kate Broadmore have been included in the New Zealand women's Twenty20 squad to play Australia after impressing during last month's emerging players' tour across the Tasman.

  The newcomers in the ODI side are legspinner Emma Campbell, batsman Natalie Dodd and left-arm-spinner Morna Nielsen. The experienced Maria Fahey, who hasn't played top-level cricket for two years after being diagnosed with chronic fatigue, has been recalled.

  The selection panel believes it is important to start integrating players into the White Ferns who could play a significant part in the next World Cup, coach Gary Stead said.

  The squad is missing several key players: Rachel Priest and Lucy Doolan have not been selected for the ODIs due to injuries and rehabilitation (their Twenty20 selection is dependent on them clearing fitness tests), Sarah Tsukigawa is unavailable and Suzie Bates misses the ODI segment because of commitments with the Australian women's National Basketball League.

  The (ODI) team have 10 players with World Cup final experience from 2009 and we will be learning from some of our past mistakes in trying to become a more consistent and complete team, Stead said.

  Captain Aimee Watkins said the five new players have had good seasons for their domestic sides and fully deserve their national call-up. Four of the five players were also on the recent emerging players' tour to Australia.

  These are players that we feel have the potential to be real stars in the future, she said. At the moment we are rebuilding with a view to the 2013 World Cup.

  We obviously want to win every game we play, but now is a good time to bring fresh talent into the team. There is no better place to test yourself than against Australia in Australia.

  The five-match ODI series will be played from February 10-18 in Adelaide and Melbourne, and the Twent20s are between the 21st and 28th

  ODI squad: Aimee Watkins (capt), Nicola Browne, Abby Burrows, Emma Campbell, Sophie Devine, Natalie Dodd, Maria Fahey, Victoria Lind, Sara McGlashan, Katey Martin, Morna Nielsen, Kate Pulford, Sian Ruck, Amy Satterthwaite.

  Twenty20 squad: Aimee Watkins (capt), Suzie Bates, Erin Bermingham, Kate Broadmore, Nicola Browne, Saskia Bullen, Sophie Devine, Lucy Doolan, Sara McGlashan, Katey Martin, Rachel Priest (wk), Kate Pulford, Sian Ruck, Amy Satterthwaite.