Yeh sunke thodi si hasi aati hai, kyunki jab badi teams apne superstars ke saath dikhawa karti hain, chhoti si White Ferns team apne naye talent ko lekar chupke se apna raasta bana rahi hai. Lekin kya yeh naye chehre sach mein game badal denge, ya bas ek aur saal ke liye list bharne ka tareeka hai?
Bree Illing, ek 21 saal ki left-arm seamer, ne apne debut series mein Sri Lanka ke khilaaf chh wickets lekar sabka dhyan khincha. Isme do baar Chamari Athapaththu jaisi world-class batter ko out karna shamil tha – yeh koi chhota kaam nahi hai! Chamari, jo 2023 ke T20 World Cup mein apne aggressive batting ke liye jani jati hai, ko Illing ne apne swing bowling se pareshan kiya. Bella James, Otago Sparks ki batter, ne bhi apne consistent domestic performances ke saath apni jagah banayi. Unka debut Australia ke khilaaf December 2024 mein kaafi impressive tha, jahan unhone dikhaya ki wo international stage par bhi dum dikha sakti hain. Yeh dono khiladi Hayley Jensen aur Sophie Devine ke retirement ke baad khali hui jagah ko bhar rahe hain, jo apne aap mein ek bada challenge hai.
White Ferns Central Contracts 2025-26
| Khiladi | Role | Notable Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Bree Illing | Bowler | 6 wickets vs Sri Lanka (2024) |
| Bella James | Batter | Strong debut vs Australia (Dec 2024) |
| Suzie Bates | Batter | 4000+ ODI runs, veteran leader |
| Amelia Kerr | All-rounder | Leading wicket-taker in 2024 T20 World Cup |
| Lea Tahuhu | Bowler | 100+ ODI wickets, consistent performer |
Yeh list dekhkar lagta hai ki NZC ne apne future aur present ka ek acha balance banaya hai. Illing aur James jaise naye khiladiyon ke saath, team mein ab bhi Suzie Bates jaisi experienced players hain, jinhone 4000 se zyada ODI runs banaye hain, aur Amelia Kerr, jo 2024 T20 World Cup mein leading wicket-taker thi. Lea Tahuhu bhi apne fiery pace bowling ke saath team ki backbone hain. Yeh mix World Cup jaise bade tournaments ke liye umeed jagata hai, khaaskar jab 2025 mein ODI aur 2026 mein T20 World Cup hone wala hai.
Lekin yahan thodi si khushi ke saath ek bada sawaal bhi hai – kya yeh naye khiladi bade teams jaise Australia ya England ke khilaaf tik payenge? Yaad hai jab 2022 mein Australia ne Women’s World Cup final mein England ko haraya tha, aur White Ferns semi-final tak bhi nahi pahunch paye the? Us waqt Sophie Devine ne kaha tha, “Humein apne game ko aur aggressive karna hoga.” Ab jab Devine ODI se retire ho rahi hain aur bas T20s khelengi, Illing aur James jaisi young players par pressure hoga ki wo us aggressive approach ko laayein.
In dono ke liye yeh ek golden opportunity hai. Illing ki swing bowling aur James ka solid batting domestic level par toh kaam kar chuka hai, lekin international cricket ek alag jung hai. Jab aap Australia ki Ellyse Perry ya India ki Smriti Mandhana ke khilaaf khelte hain, toh har ball ek test hota hai. Phir bhi, chhoti teams ka yahi toh charm hai – wo chupke se aakar bade dikhawa karne wali teams ko hara deti hain. Yaad hai 2016 ka T20 World Cup jab West Indies ne Australia ko semi-final mein hara diya tha? Aisa hi kuch White Ferns se umeed hai.
Lekin sach kahu, toh NZC ke is faisle mein thodi si kami bhi dikhayi deti hai. Jab tak yeh naye khiladi apne aap ko consistently prove nahi karte, tab tak yeh contract sirf ek kagaz ka tukda hai. Agar 2025 World Cup mein White Ferns phir se struggle karti hain, toh shayad log yeh bolna shuru kar denge ki shayad kuch aur talent ko chance dena chahiye tha.
