Craig McMillan Joins White Ferns as Batting and Fielding Coach

Auckland, Sep 2 (PTI) Former New Zealand all-rounder Craig McMillan has been appointed as the batting and fielding coach of the White Ferns ahead of the Women's ODI World Cup, which is set to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka starting September 30. The 48-year-old McMillan, who represented New Zealand in 55 Tests and 197 ODIs scoring over 7,500 runs as a batsman, will join head coach Ben Sawyer on a full-time basis. Previously, McMillan was involved with the New Zealand women's team during their triumphant T20 World Cup campaign in 2024. "I'm thrilled to be taking on this role with the White Ferns. The women's game continues to grow and it's exciting to work with our talented players, helping them achieve their goals," McMillan expressed, as reported by the ICC. "The past year has flown by, and I've enjoyed every moment with a team that keeps improving, challenging each other, and achieving remarkable feats on the global stage." The White Ferns have a rich history in the Cricket World Cup, having claimed the trophy once in 2000, and finished runners-up on three occasions. Several squad members traveled to Chennai last month for a training camp to acclimatize to spin-friendly conditions. McMillan believes the team's preparations have been strong, and the White Ferns aim to add another trophy to their cabinet after winning the T20 World Cup last year. "We've had an intense period leading up to the 50-over World Cup, including a significant camp in Chennai that exposed the players to Indian conditions similar to those they will encounter in October-November. The team is eager to return to India and compete in another World Cup," he stated. New Zealand will kick off their World Cup campaign against their Trans-Tasman rivals Australia on October 1 in Indore. The prize pool for the eight-team marquee tournament has seen a significant increase, with a total of USD 13.88 million (approximately Rs 122.5 crore), a staggering rise of 297 percent from the USD 3.5 million (approximately Rs 31 crore) offered in the last edition, which took place in New Zealand in 2022.

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