Tiffen takes on a new role

In what is believed to be a first for New Zealand Cricket, former Canterbury Magicians and White Ferns captain Haidee Tiffen will take up a new role this season as the Canterbury Women's Cricket Ambassador.

Tiffen announced her retirement from all forms of Cricket before the 2009-10 season to focus on her teaching career and further her tertiary education.

Canterbury Cricket chief executive Lee Germon said the intention was to not only increase participation numbers, but also to increase the profile of the women's arm of the sport in our region

"Having Haidee involved is a real coup for us," he said.

"She has a universal appeal for cricketers from grassroots level right up to her old team mates in the Magicians and is also held with the highest regard at the international level."

Tiffen, who learnt her cricket at Timaru Girls' High School, said the passion she has for women's cricket, especially in Canterbury, has not gone and she had always hoped an opportunity would present itself where she could remain actively involved in the game she loves.

"It was a hard decision to finish my career after more than a decade and I have really missed being a part of the Canterbury Cricket family this past year," she said.

"When the opportunity was presented to me to become the first Women's Cricket Ambassador it was really a no-brainer."

Tiffen said it was a fantastic initiative and showed a real focus on growing women's cricket.

- © Fairfax NZ News