Australia departs for New Zealand to defend Rose Bowl
The Australian women's cricket team, the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars, departs for New Zealand today (4 February) to defend its hold on the Rose Bowl trophy.
Cricket Australia
04-Feb-2004
The Australian women's cricket team, the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars, departs for New Zealand today (4 February) to defend its hold on the Rose Bowl trophy.
Arch rivals Australia and New Zealand will contest six limited-over matches in the annual Rose Bowl Series, with three games to be played in each country.
The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars will play a series of lead-in matches before its first game against New Zealand on Wednesday 11 February in Auckland. The match will be televised live on New Zealand's Sky Sport 1.
The team returns to Australia on Wednesday 18 February to prepare for the three home matches of the series in Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart.
The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars schedule is:
| 11 February | Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars v New Zealand | Auckland, NZ |
| 15 February | Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars v New Zealand | Hamilton, NZ |
| 17 February | Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars v New Zealand | Hamilton, NZ |
| 21 February | Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars v New Zealand | Bankstown Oval, NSW |
| 25 February | Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars v New Zealand | Albert Ground, Vic |
| 27 February | Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars v New Zealand | Bellerive Oval, Tas |
The Australian squad will be reselected ahead of the Australian leg of the tour, and announced on 18 February.
Meanwhile, the Australian youth side - the Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars - will contest four limited-over matches against New Zealand A in New Zealand from 8 February.
The Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars schedule is:
| 8 February | Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars v New Zealand A | Lincoln Uni |
| 9 February | Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars v New Zealand A | Lincoln Uni |
| 11 February | Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars v New Zealand A | Lincoln Uni |
| 12 February | Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars v New Zealand A | Lincoln Uni |