Tiffin thrilled at Twenty20 chance

Haidee Tiffin is set to lead New Zealand in next year's tournament © Getty Images

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New Zealand skipper Haidee Tiffin has revealed her excitement that her side will be taking part in the ICC World Twenty20 2009.

The women’s and men’s tournament will run side by side in June next year with one semi-final from each competition at Trent Bridge on June 18 and the other at the Oval on June 19.

The women's final will precede the men's showpiece at Lord's on June 21.

"As soon as we found out, the whole squad was really excited to find out that we would be playing curtain raisers before the men. It's just fantastic for the women's game," said Tiffin.

"To have two world events in the space of a few months is brilliant."

The White Ferns have been pitted against long-time rivals Australia in their opening game, as well as West Indies and South Africa.

"We see Australia annually, and we are used to playing them, but we've only played the West Indies at the World Cup in 2005," said Tiffin.

"We played South Africa in a Twenty20 game in England last year, but we haven't played them on a regular basis."

Tiffin, whose side held their first winter training camp last week as the preparation for the two major ICC events in 2009 begins to build up, has fond memories of her time in the UK and particularly Taunton, which is where the group matches of the event will be held.

"I've got a couple of memories that stand out from watching and playing at Taunton," said the 28-year-old.

"I watched England play India and saw Mithali Raj make her 200 (she made 214 - a world record score in Test cricket at the time), but the first time I played there was last year when we played a Twenty20 followed by a one-day game and I have fond memories because we won.

Tiffin watched India's Mithali Raj, aged 19, hit a then Test-record 214 against England at Taunton in 2002

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"It's a great ground - it is a fantastic facility to be the home of women's cricket in England.

"The people at the ground are very hospitable, they have brilliant changing rooms and the pitch conditions are good."

Excellent crowds are expected to attend the group games at Taunton in Somerset, which is only a swift train or road journey from London, and Tiffin is hopeful that New Zealand will benefit from some support from Kiwis who now reside in the UK.

"When Kiwis go to London, they end up hanging around with other Kiwis - I think there are more of them over there than there are here at home," said Tiffin.

"I have always had a fantastic time when I have been in England and Kiwis always support Kiwis, so I hope that a lot of them will take the train ride down to Taunton."

Were New Zealand to progress to the final at Lord's, Tiffin believes the event would be one of the highlights of her cricketing career, although she is sure that the semi-finals will be memorable occasions as well.

"It would be a dream. I've played for New Zealand for ten years and it would be fantastic to play not only at Lord's, but to have the opportunity to play at the Oval and Trent Bridge as well is really exciting," said Tiffin.

"The squad will work really hard and to play at Lord's, if you are a male or female player, is a dream."