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Kiwi Cricket Kōrero host and writer Ellie Indie previews the Auckland Hearts ahead of the 2022–23 season (originally written 9/11/22)
Auckland has a rich history in the women’s domestic circuit, the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield — named after NZ politician Hallyburton Johnstone — was originally between Auckland and Wellington, the first 2 women’s provincial teams. It had originally begun as a result of the interest generated from a New Zealand home series versus England — a tour in which the first women’s Test Matches were played, hence inspiring Johnstone to create the 4-day competition
The HBJ was played on a challenge basis, as Johnstone handed Auckland the trophy and Wellington had to fight hard to snatch it off of them. It was also a multi-day competition up until 1996, then adopted the 50-over format and waved goodbye to NZ’s women's First Class scene.
Fast forward a couple of years from then to the current time, now Auckland have to compete with 4 other teams and play for the trophy like everyone else. As well as that, they’ve also ventured into 2 formats, and are the third most successful side in the HBJ Shield (17 titles) plus the most silverware out of all the teams in the competition to date.
Last year wasn’t one representative of their winning ways, though this year the Hearts will be looking to take a trophy or two back to Eden Park.
HBJ RESULT: 5th
SS RESULT: 3rd
Last year was one to forget for the Auckland Hearts. Apart from qualifying for the Eliminator Final vs Otago Sparks in the Super Smash, which they eventually lost and had to settle for third, the Hearts had it tricky. They struggled immensely in the 50-over format, despite Down, Perkins & Huddlestons’ batting efforts, it all went wrong with their bowling. — as they opted for just the one spinner for the 50 overs last season in Fran Jonas, limiting them in their varieties.
On top of that, they suffered the wrath of the Covid restrictions the hardest — having their fixtures postponed and effectively having to play catch-up with the rest of the teams. It was clear Auckland had potential last year, but playing the chasing game tired players out and capped them at a measly 5th in the HBJ. There seemed to be no teamwork within the team.
It’s a new season for the Hearts; restrictions are lifted and they’ll be raring to right their wrongs from last year with their latest imports of exciting talent.
What’s pulsating for the Hearts is their youthful unit. With the retirement of Anna Peterson, Katie Perkins and Holly Huddleston in and out of the side with work commitments, and the loss of their White Ferns during the World Cup, Auckland found themselves with plenty of space to slot their emerging talents into — and it worked out well for some.
The fact so many were given game time this year, plus some A-side games, potentially eliminates a ‘White Ferns-less Wellington Blaze’ type of performance, as the side will be prepared to take on the absences — but also perform to a strong capacity.
Amie Hucker, an example of one of the young hopefuls, has already made her name for herself among the Auckland ranks, and she’s only 20. While her current T20 & List A stats wouldn’t suggest much impressive to date, last year provided some sneak peeks into what’s to come for the young Cornwall all-rounder. She wasn’t given many overs to play with last year, neither with bat or ball, though this year will be looking to play a larger role in the side’s victories.
The former Auckland U19 skipper stunned a fair few with her small cameos last year — she came in toward the end of the innings and aided Auckland with 6 more runs to the tally on the final ball, and claimed the wicket of Nat Cox, conceding only 15 runs from her 4 overs; an example of the glimpses as to what’s to come for the young seamer. While she’s more likely to impress with her bowling attributes, don’t be surprised if she’s promoted up the order & plays a few good knocks here and there.
Saachi Shahri at 25 enters her 7th season for Auckland, and in that time has become one of the most aesthetically pleasing batters in the domestic circuit, and she’s looking to bat her way to the top of the runs tally. While she’s had her wobbles in the shorter format, there’s no doubting her ability in the 50-over tourney.
Last year was her best average-wise — averaging 27.80 in 5 inns with 139 runs. However, the season was, as mentioned, a tricky one for the Hearts with fixtures constantly moved around and (for every other team) a spot of bad weather plaguing the tournament. It meant players were not often given a large platform to get the runs in, and Shahri was a massive victim of this.
This season we could see Shahri have her stand-out year, though we saw something along those lines in 2019/20, her game has since evolved and if it’s anything like last year’s sprinklings of outings, the Mumbai-born batter should be high up in the HBJ runs column. Though while there’s a decent amount of well-deserved praise in her longer gameplay, it's the T20s that’s been a cause of concern for the side.
Over the years her strike rate has not been appropriate for the format, though upping it to 108.18, there are some power-hitting youngsters on their way to usurp her role (Prue Catton, Amie Hucker, fellow Howick Pakuranga teammate Amberly Parr). It will be interesting to see how Shahri adapts her approach to the format if she’s to justify retaining a role in the XI.
Keep an eye out for HBJ’s potential highest run scorer!
This year has been the year of Arlene Kelly. She started another year as an Auckland seamer and ended it with 20 international caps with 23 wickets for a country on the other side of the world. This girl is going places.
It all started with a simple few-month trip to Ireland, when there she was picked up for the Dragons in the Super Series, then offered a place in the national side out of the blue, qualifying through her Irish roots, after some stunning outings in the 50 over cup — like her 60 and 3-fer on debut. Her new-found international experience plus the opposition she’s encountered will only aid the Hearts further in their fight for the titles.
But before that, she was in the Auckland side that saw a mixed bag of results over this season. Though she was by far the pick of the Hearts T20 unit; she took 10 wickets (1st in the side) at 5.05 rpo (1st) at an average of 20.20 (1st), which the team as a whole failed to capitalise on, they struggled to keep in sync with each other. Though she bowls best in the shorter format, it is Kelly’s 50-over batting that aids the Auckland side — averaging 20.74 compared to 11.28 in T20s.
While there was not much to be said on her HBJ campaign — 105 runs in 7 inns, 4 wickets in 7 — given this new experience overseas and a fresh run in the Super Series, we should expect to see big things from Kelly in all formats this year.
To conclude…
Auckland this year looks like a really interesting side and has the potential to play some very exciting cricket — they just need to work in harmony. As long as they find their perfect batting order and bowling options, the Hearts should be good to go for title-chasing. Ideally, Perkins / Down / Catton / (Shahri — HBJ) would open up the innings, to be followed by (Shahri — T20) Huddleston / Hucker / Kelly / Gaze. All could be adjusted based on the match situation, but otherwise seems a safe, strong and powerful order to go with.
Their bowling attack is where games can be lost for this side, in all formats — They no longer have experienced veteran Anna Peterson (retired from the game), and it’s a generally young & quick unit. If there’s one thing the Hearts will have been working on in the offseason, it’s the bowling prep for the HBJ, and how to adapt to the format as a whole while increasing their spin options
They look likely to repeat last year’s Super Smash result, but it all depends on the teams around them. The Hearts have to, and most likely will be, the best of the rest when it comes to the SS. While the SS appears more one-sided with the juggernaut that is the Wellington Blaze, it’s all to play for in the prestigious HBJ.
Auckland’s contract list for this season (2022–23)
Bella Armstrong, Anna Browning, Sarah Carnachan (WK), Prue Catton, Amie Hucker, Holly Huddleston, Breearne Illing, Amberley Parr, Josie Penfold, Katie Perkins, Saachi Shahri, Makayla Templeton (moves from ND)
(Arlene Kelly expected to play for the side, on an Ireland contract. Down ©, Gaze (WK), M Penfold and Jonas on NZ contracts)
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