Picking up a professional contract has helped Maddy Green develop her game and she's looking forward to putting that on show in the T20 World Cup.
Maddy Green in action for the White Ferns Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Green is a key figure in the White Ferns set-up as a middle order batter and now as a wicket-keeper.
She made her debut in 2012 and South Africa will be her fourth T20 World Cup.
"I've played a lot of T20 cricket in the last six months in different conditions.... in the UK, the West Indies and at home.
"Also playing in the Big Bash and Super Smash, I feel I couldn't have had a better preparation ahead of this World Cup."
Like most internationals having the opportunity to play around the world against some of the best has given Green a great opportunity to improve her batting.
"It's been nice to be able to score some runs in different conditions over the last season and from a personal point of view it helps me feel confident in my game to be able to adapt to whatever conditions are put in front of me."
She's also benefited from 10 years in the White Ferns set-up.
She was picked as a fringe player for the 2014 and 2018 T20 World Cups as a middle order batter who could bowl a bit.
But now as one of the established players with a contract the 30 year old has been able to concentrate on her batting and bats as high as number four.
For many years the White Ferns have relied on opening batters Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates to get them off to a good start if they're to challenge the other top sides.
Green doesn't feel that's the case anymore.
"A few years ago we were probably reliant on the likes of Suzie and Sophie and Amy Satterthwaite.
"It's part of the evolution of the professionalism in New Zealand that we're building more depth and those three were probably the only ones in our team that were truly professional cricketers, so there was a bit of a gulf between their skill set and some of the others in the squad.
"In the last few years we've had more girls on professional contracts and we've seen the skill level of the squad, me included, starting to close the gap.
Maddy Green (centre) at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
What has made Green invaluable in the squad is her wicket keeping.
She stood behind the stumps while at school and would occasionally put on the gloves for Wellington,
She had previously been named backup to a specialist keeper when selected, but new coach Ben Smith saw a bigger opportunity for her in the shortest version of the game.
"Ben had a look at how the Black Caps have approached their T20 squad with Devon Conway a batter that can stand behind the wickets and do a good job.
"Ben said to me earlier in the season to keep working on it and keep building that skill set in terms of adding balance to the side."
With Green taking over the wicket-keeping duties the White Ferns can now play their best batting line-up.
And the White Ferns will need to have their best on the field to have any chance at the T20 World Cup.
Their best results were runners-up in the first two tournaments, but they've failed to make the play-offs in the last.
Australia, England and India, along with hosts South Africa will be their main opposition.
New Zealand opens their tournament against Australia in Paarl on February 12th.
-RNZ
