The Auckland Women's Cricket selectors have named their squad of 13 players to defend the State Insurance Cup.

The State Auckland Hearts squad will again be lead by Kathryn Ramel, who with Emily Drumm, Clare Nicholson, Rebecca Rolls and Helen Watson, was a member of the victorious Clear White Ferns World Cup team.

Watson will make her Auckland debut in the State Insurance Cup, having transferred from Canterbury this season. A talented all rounder, Watson is also a New Zealand indoor cricket representative, and made her mark in the World Cup final with two brilliant run outs.

There are two other debutants in the squad, in top order batsman Ingrid Cronin-Knight, and Debbie Ramsey, an all rounder who bowls off spin.

The State Auckland Hearts squad is:

Kathryn Ramel (captain - Papatoetoe), Emily Drumm (University Akarana), Shelley Fruin (Grafton United), Clare Nicholson (North Shore), Rachel Potter (University Akarana), Rebecca Rolls (Papatoetoe), Anja Soma (Papatoetoe), Natalee Scripps (University Akarana), Ingrid Cronin-Knight (University Akarana), Helen Watson (Grafton United), Debbie Ramsey (Cornwall), Elfriede Komp (North Shore), Munokoa Tunupopo (Grafton United).

The strength of the squad can be seen in the ability of players that the selectors have had to omit. Players such as Paula Gruber and Sacha Cowlrick, both members of last season's State Insurance Cup-winning side, and former Auckland and Wellington representative Losi Harford were unlucky to miss selection, as were promising players Cathryn Bristow, Kelly Robertson and Kathryn Spence. These players may still have the opportunity to compete in the State Insurance Cup however, with Auckland again supplying draft players to the Northern Districts squad.

The State Auckland Hearts draw for the State Insurance Cup is:

January 13 and 14 v State Otago (Dunedin), January 15 and 16 v Canterbury (Christchurch), January 20 and 21 v State Northern Districts (Whangarei), February 3 and 4 v State Wellington (Melville Park, Auckland), February 5 and 6 v State Central Districts (Melville Park, Auckland). February 10: State Insurance Cup Final

All games are 50 over per side matches.

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