Draw confirmed for women's Quadrangular Tournament

New Zealand Cricket has announced a fourteen-match schedule for next year's Quadrangular Tournament to be contested between the TelstraClear White Ferns, Australia, England and India.

The tournament will be played between January 26 and February 9, 2003 at New Zealand Cricket's High Performance Centre, Lincoln University, Canterbury.

New Zealand Cricket operations manager John Reid said the tournament will provide a meaningful competition for the teams between World Cup cycles.

"It's important for the growth and development of women's cricket internationally that we provide opportunities for teams to compete in tournaments like this one.

"The experience of playing in a demanding and competitive tournament develops the skill levels of the participants and provides a gauge of how each team is progressing in an international sense," said Reid.

Next year the annual trans-Tasman Rosebowl competition will be incorporated into the Quadrangular Tournament.

"There will be an added dimension to the matches in the Quadrangular Tournament between Australia and New Zealand because, not only will they be playing to win the tournament, they will also be playing for the annual Rosebowl which represents trans-Tasman superiority."

At the conclusion of the Quadrangular Tournament England will be touring Australia where the teams will compete in a Test series.

The Australian Cricket Board, which under normal circumstances would have hosted both the TelstraClear White Ferns for the Rosebowl and the one-day element of the England tour, has made a financial contribution to the Quadrangular Tournament in lieu of this commitment.

"New Zealand Cricket is grateful for the foresight that the ACB has shown by agreeing to assist with some of the costs associated with this NZC initiative," said Reid.

"The international women's game needs administrations with the vision and commitment to grow interest in it, and NZC appreciates the cooperation of the ACB and their practical support which clearly shows they share this vision with us."

The first match of the Quadrangular Tournament will be played between the TelstraClear White Ferns and Australia on Sunday 26 January at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln University, Canterbury.