CHENNAI: They are here to play cricket, but many among the
New Zealand women
's team are multi-faceted personalities. While skipper Suzie Bates is a double international -having represented New Zealand in both
cricket
and basketball, her teammates Sophie Devine (hockey and cricket) and Felicity Leydon-Davis (badminton and cricket) too belong to the same league.
The side also boasts of two players -Katie Perkins and Erin Bermingham -who both double up as policewomen when not on the cricket field. While Katie does her duty in Auckland, Erin works in Christchurch. "I am working in a place (at Auckland) where the crime rates are high. I have had my share of car chases and arrests, but have managed to balance both my duties as a cop and as a cricketer," the 27-yearold Katie told TOI on Tuesday.
Among the few exciting episodes, Katie instantly recalled the one that occurred last year."One night, I encountered a drunk driver and he injured my leg while passing by my car. I did manage to catch hold of him only to find out he didn't even have a driving license. It was worse because we were to play Sri Lanka shortly , and I had to work doubly hard to be fit for that series," Katie mentioned.
The earthquake that shook Christchurch in 2011had a deep impact on Erin's life. "There was a large-scale devastation and I saw the cops working overtime to ensure others' safety and I decided to become one as well," said the 27-year-old leg spinner Erin.
Both Katie and Erin believe their lives as cops had a role in shaping their cricket careers. "Being a cop means we are constantly in the line of fire. The same is the case with cricket too. It (working with the police) has given our life a different perspective," Katie said.