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White Fern wanting to test herself in men's cricket at odds with Auckland Cricket

September 10, 2018

It's the predicament of holding one player back to benefit the sport or prioritise individual player development.

That's the situation White Fern Katie Perkins finds herself in with Auckland Cricket.

As the thirty-year-old comes to the tail end of her career she's wanting to do whatever it takes to be the best and she feels there’s only one place she can do that.

"At this stage of my career I want to be the best I can be and the men’s game provides that for me."

The White Ferns batter has been playing in the women's club competition for 15 years and has been trying for many seasons to get full dispensation to compete in the men's grade.

But the transfer is easier said than done.

"Auckland Cricket, to their credit, didn't say blanket no but the constraints they put around it meant it was pretty much a nil opportunity."

Auckland Cricket chief executive Iain Laxon says when there is women premier cricket scheduled, Perkins has to play that competition but when there is no women's premier cricket on a given weekend she is able to play men’s cricket at whatever level.

The ruling works out to be about two weekends in the season.

The situation has put Auckland Cricket, one of the only regions with a women's competition and actively trying to develop the women’s game, in a difficult situation Laxon says.

"From an organisational point of view, how do we get competition as strong as it can be and having Katie as part of that is really crucial of how we build the strength in that competition."

Perkins admits she’s thought about changing regions to join some White Ferns teammates and play in men’s cricket as that is all that is available.

"I have thought about it, going through this process, but I guess I’m a loyal person."

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