'We'll be better next time' - Fitzpatrick
Tue, 2 February 2010
Head coach Cathryn Fitzpatrick says the disappointment of running second to NSW in the Women's National Cricket League final at the MCG will ensure the advances made by the DEC VicSpirit will continue in 2010. The selection of four Victorians at national level for the coming Rose Bowl series against the New Zealanders is a consolation and will open the pathway for others. "We would have loved to have won (the final) but we didn't," she said. "We played a half a game of cricket which wasn't too bad. Every one of our batters had an opportunity to put their hand up. Someone needed to make a big score and it didn't happen. It will make us hungrier (next time). "We were rapt to win the Twenty20 final, but we would have loved to have won at the MCG. That was the one we all really wanted." Fitzpatrick said the improvement in several members of the squad, most noticeably new Southern Stars cap Julie Hunter, all-rounder Briana Binch and the continued wicket-taking exploits of Kristen Beams were major factors in VicSpirit's strong season. Hunter, Sarah Elliott, captain Rachael Haynes and Jess Cameron are all part of the touring party for the Rose Bowl. They have frontline opportunity to also be named in the initial 30-player Australian World Cup squad. "Last time we toured to England (in 2009) we had two in the squad for the Test match component and two for the one-dayers, so to have four in the squad outright this time around is great," she said. "It is a reward for the girls and a reward for the team the way we played this summer." Fitzpatrick says it was very much a case of 'unfinished business' for her as coach and the team going forward into 2010-11. "There have been a lot of positives, especially with our bowling group," she said. "From last year we lost Jodi Dean and Jane Franklin and for most of this year we were without Clea Smith. That was 30 overs worth out of the attack and still to finish on top and host the final was a plus for us. "Unfortunately with the batting we didn't have anyone who stood out or really tore apart an attack. We just had one 100 (Rachael Haynes in Adelaide) and not many 50s. We wanted the girls to go big but they couldn't." With the girls also chosen at Shooting Stars level last October, it gave Victoria seven national representatives in 2009-10 with more to come, Fitzpatrick believes, with the development of some of the state's outstanding teenagers in development programs. She says the VicSpirit squad re-grouped with some big names retiring and redefined the culture within the team. "It was all very positive," she said. "We really think we can continue to stamp ourselves on the competition."
by Ken Piesse
