England women bowler Kate Cross is eyeing a strong start to the series as they prepare to face New Zealand tonight.
After a week on the shores of New Zealand, Charlotte Edwards' side face their first competitive game against the White Ferns tonight, with the first three one-day internationals counting towards the ICC Women's Championship. If the tourists win all three, they will rise from fifth to second.
Cross thinks the format will suit England, and says they will be eyeing a good start after winning their only warm-up game against Northern Spirit.
Speaking exclusively to ecb.co.uk, Cross said: “I think they're the three games we want to win and need to win.
“I think it's quite good that they're the first three games because we can really put everything into it; maybe in the last three games there might be some fatigue come into it, I'm not sure but we're all really looking forward to it.
“We've not played a game since the summer so its going to be really good to get back out there and play some competitive cricket.”
#Engwomen take on @WHITE_FERNS tomorrow in the 1st ODI, take a quick look around the host venue, the Bay Oval: http://t.co/HqoB1pLfwX
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) February 10, 2015
However, Cross revealed that the squad is very wary of their opponents, and have even sent their long-standing captain on a scouting mission to help them prepare for the series, which also includes three Twenty20 internationals between the third and fourth ODIs.
The 23-year-old highlighted the dangers their opponents pose, adding: “As a bowler we're looking at Suzie Bates and Soph Devine - those kind of big players that can win big matches for them, but Lottie came and watched their warm-up game a couple of days ago and there's a lot of players that could do damage so we've got our wits about us and we're looking forward to them coming out hard at us really.”
With the first game tonight, the long wait for an international appearance is almost over for Cross and her team-mates after their international summer ended against South Africa on September 7.
Cross, who returned figures of 0-4 from her three overs against Northern Districts, said: “It's great being able to put your England jersey on and go out and play a game for England.
“We've not done that since the summer and thankfully the weather is a bit better than it was back in the summer in England so yeah we're really looking forward to getting back out there.”
.@katecross16 blogs on @ECB_cricket Women's mountainous preparations for the first ODI v NZ: http://t.co/B1ims4YEFQpic.twitter.com/EIvu5WFlls
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) February 9, 2015