January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Mienzer: 'I expect good things'
She says cricket team can qualify for World Cup
They will be playing in the Women's World Cup Qualifier from February 18 to 24 in South Africa, but they have a tough battle ahead of them.
Bermuda's ladies will be up against the best from South Africa, the Netherlands, and Papua New Guinea in Pool B. The top two teams will face the top two from Pool A with only the top two sides will go on to compete in the ICC Women's World Cup in Australia in 2009.
Captain Linda Mienzer said: "We're playing at a much higher level than we have been exposed to in the past with two of the other teams having already played in a World Cup so our expectations...is that on any given day any team can be beaten. If we go out there and do our best, then I expect good things."
She said there is a bit of added pressure with Bermuda being on a 'cricket high' with the Under-19s and the men qualifying for their World Cups.
"For us, this is an accomplishment beyond anybody's dream's already. We've just been involved in the game for a year and a half. The expectations then weren't very high for us, but we accomplished it and now we're off to the qualifier. We're happy to have the opportunity and aim to do our best.
Part of the low expectations came from the fact that there is no domestic league to pull players from.
"We do have a small pool of women to pull from and those women are torn between soccer, hockey, basketball and everything else so what we had to do is really push to get those women who may not have had the highest cricketing ability, but have the desire to play cricket and develop from there and that's where we are now.
"We had about 25 people to pick the team from and this is what we had. I definitely believe this is the best team."
Mienzer played cricket for police in the Inter-Services league against customs, post office and prison officers. When she was invited to try out for the national team Mienzer jumped at the chance.
"Most women grew up playing backyard cricket," We grew up watching Cup Match. I've always loved cricket and this is just another way for me to express that love."
She said Bermuda's secret weapon is 15-year-old Reuna Richardson.
"She's one of our best bowlers and she's proven herself international for us on numerous occasions. I'm quite confident she's going to rise to the occasion and take lots of wickets for us."
Richardson is the youngest player on the squad and says it's like having "a lot of mothers' watch over her. "They're always protecting me and watching out for me."
She has confidence that Bermuda will do well.
"I expect us to qualify."[[In-content Ad]]
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