EAP women cricketers to attend World Cup

Australia and New Zealand to host 4 EAP women cricketers
Cricket Australia (CA) and New Zealand Cricket (NZC), in conjunction with the International Cricket Council (ICC) East Asia – Pacific (EAP) Development Programme, have awarded 4 women cricketers from the EAP region the opportunity to be part of their respective ICC Women’s World Cup 2009 preparations.

As part of an initiative to help with the development of the most talented EAP women cricketers, the selected players will be exposed to an elite cricket program both on and off the field, providing a behind the scenes look at the lead up to the pinnacle of Women’s cricket, the ICC Women’s World Cup 2009.

Their involvement will include attending and participating in training sessions, team meetings, recovery sessions as well as watching the clash between Australia and New Zealand. In addition to this, the selected players will form a relationship with a local Sydney team, and participate in various development activities.

The selected players are:

Pauke Siaka – Papua New Guinea (AUSTRALIA)

Pauke is a right arm fast bowler and right handed opening batsman. She plays for the Coasters in the Port Moresby Competition, and is the 5th highest run scorer for Season 08/09 averaging 27.5. Pauke played in the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier in South Africa in 2008, taking 4 wickets from 3 matches.

Ura Rigana – Papua New Guinea (AUSTRALIA)

Ura is a right hand number 3 batsman and right arm medium pacer and plays for the United Cricket Club in Port Moresby, PNG. She had an outstanding 2008/09 season, finishing as the 2nd highest run scorer averaging 45.75. Ura also took 8 wickets at an average of 7.25. She was part of the PNG side that participated in the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier in South Africa. Ura’s best bowling figures are 5 wickets for 1 run.

Shizuka Kubota – Japan (NEW ZEALAND)

Shizuka is a right hand number 4 batsman and first change medium pace bowler, and is very versatile in the field. Shizuka is the Captain of L-Wyverns Cricket Club and averaged 22.5 with the bat in 2008/09. She represented Japan at the ICC EAP Women’s Cricket Challenge in 2006 in Papua New Guinea.

Ema Kuribayashi – Japan (NEW ZEALAND)

Ema is a left handed top order batsman and right arm off-spinner, and plays with the L-Wyverns Cricket Club. Ema is currently playing with the East Christchurch Shirley Cricket Club in New Zealand, where her highest score so far is 39 and her best bowling figures are 3 wickets for 28 runs. Ema averaged 50 in the ICC EAP Women’s Cricket Challenge held in Port Moresby, PNG in 2006. Ema’s favourite player is Belinda Clarke.