The task of finding replacement players for retiring New Zealand representatives Debbie Hockley, Catherine Campbell, Clare Nicholson and Katrina Keenan has begun with the selection of two winter training squads today.

New Zealand Cricket has named two women's squads to prepare for the international playing programme next summer.

Two squads, a National squad of 10 players and a New Zealand "A" squad of 13 players, have been selected.

All 10 players named in the National Squad were part of the world champion CLEAR White Ferns.

The national squad will assemble for an initial assessment weekend on April 28-29 and then reassemble in June for monthly camps throughout the winter at which time the squad will be increased to 18 players.

The New Zealand `A' squad contains 13 players who will attend two training camps that are being used as a screening process before the National Squad is increased to 18 players in June.

The New Zealand `A' squad will assemble for two training weekends on April 20-22 and May 18-20. After the second camp the National Squad will be increased to 18 players.

The four women included in this year's intake at the New Zealand Cricket Academy have been named in the New Zealand `A' squad – Fiona Fraser and Sarah Burke from Canterbury and Aimee Mason and Philippa Gerrish from Central Districts'.

Also included in the New Zealand `A' squad are three players with previous international experience - Kate Pulford and Erin McDonald from Central Districts' and Munokoa Tunupopo from Auckland.

Sixteen-year-old Otago wicket keeper/ batsman Katey Martin is included, as is Auckland pace bowler Natalee Scripps, who took 18 wickets in the State Insurance Cup. Two off-spinners – Anna Corbin from Wellington and Maria Fahey from Canterbury – and the promising Northern Districts' pace bowling duo of Nicola Brown and Louise Milliken, complete the `A' squad.

Four key players from the CricInfo Women's World Cup, won by the CLEAR White Ferns, were unavailable for selection. They are Catherine Campbell, Debbie Hockley, Katrina Keenan and Clare Nicholson.

The convener of the national selectors Lesley Murdoch said: "It has been a demanding 12 months for the CLEAR White Ferns beginning with an intensive winter build-up leading into the CricInfo Women's World Cup, and ending with the State Insurance Cup. As a result the national selectors have decided that the national squad should meet in April to set the scene for the winter and then reconvene at the end of June.

"The CLEAR White Ferns will now enter a re-building phase following the non-availability of four leading players. The national selectors have identified pace bowling and spin bowling as areas that need to be addressed. As a result the New Zealand `A' squad has a good mix of pace and spin bowlers who have performed well at State Insurance Cup level. These players now have an opportunity to cement places within the full National Squad to attend camps from June through the winter," Murdoch said.

The CLEAR White Fern's international playing programme is not yet confirmed but is likely to include a tour to India in November/December 2001 and home series against both England and Australia in February 2002. A series against the Australian Youth team is also planned for New Zealand `A' in February 2002.

The National Squad is: Emily Drumm (Auckland), Paula Flannery (Canterbury), Anna O'Leary (Wellington), Nicola Payne (Canterbury), Rachel Pullar (Otago), Kathryn Ramel (Auckland), Rebecca Rolls (Auckland), Haidee Tiffen (Canterbury), Emily Travers (Central Districts), Helen Watson (Auckland).

The New Zealand A squad is: Nicola Browne (Northern Districts), Sarah Burke (Canterbury), Anna Corbin (Wellington), Maria Fahey (Canterbury), Fiona Fraser (Canterbury), Philippa Gerrish (Central Districts), Erin McDonald (Central Districts), Katey Martin (Otago), Aimee Mason (Central Districts), Louise Milliken (Northern Districts), Kate Pulford (Central Districts), Natalee Scripps (Auckland), Munokoa Tunupopo (Auckland).

© CricInfo