The best is yet to come: Molly Penfold

Born in Kingston, England, Molly Penfold’s family moved to New Zealand when she was at a young age. The 23-year-old grew up playing different sports, ranging from netball and rugby to basketball and cricket. 

She was inspired by her sister as she would play cricket regularly for Auckland and was also a pace bowler. Having chosen to pursue her career in cricket and becoming a seamer, she made her debut for the White Ferns against England, the country she was born in, back in September 2021. She was selected as a reserve player in New Zealand’s squad for the Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022.

The White Ferns then named her among the players heading to South Africa for the Women’s T20 World Cup 2023, but she didn’t play a single game in that tournament. 

Now all set for the ninth edition of the T20 World Cup in UAE, Penfold will be looking to make her ICC breakthrough this year. Ahead of the tournament, she spoke to Women’s CricZone, sharing insights about becoming a pace bowler, New Zealand’s difficult winter season, Sophie Devine departing as the New Zealand Captain and more.

Q: So let's just start from the beginning. You have always been into sports netball, I'm guessing even basketball and then cricket. How did it all happen?

Well, I'm one of four kids in my family. So we all grew up playing sports together whether that was in the backyard or playing alongside each other on the cricket field. Yeah, I was always into netball, rugby as well and also cricket obviously. So yeah, I have an older sister that I saw, she started playing cricket, so I thought I was like, “I want to do that.” Kind of started from about the age of five, had a little break from when I was around 10 to 12 and then found my love for it again. And then, having been contracted centrally, it obviously doesn't allow that much time to play the other sports. So I've had to drop netball and touch and focus on cricket a lot more. But yeah, it's a blessing in disguise really because I do love my job.

Q: And how did pace bowling happen?

Good question actually. I don't really know how it started. I guess my older sister again as well. She started when she was seven. and she also started as a pace bowler. She still is, and I guess I kind of just grew up knowing and just believing that I wanted to be a cricketer and I wanted to bowl fast and bat. Well, so yeah, I think it kind of, I would definitely bring it down to my sister and playing alongside her and watching her play.

Q: Talking about the pace bowlers, the White Ferns have a great pace bowling contingent - Molly Penfold, Hannah Rowe and of course, Lea Tahuhu, so there's a bit of competition, but there's healthy competition too. So cross learning, how is it like playing with them?

You know, like you always have to train and play if you're fighting for your spot, which we all are in this case and yeah, like you said, there are a lot of pace bowlers in this group, which isn't exactly a bad thing either. So it just gives us a lot of options, which is great leading into the T20 World Cup. knowing that we have those options for Ben and Soph to choose from. So, yeah, I wouldn't say it's a bad thing at all. It's definitely good to have some competition there.

Q: And in recent months, the winter, especially, has been tough for the White Ferns. The form has been on the downside, especially in the home and away series against England. So what does the team talk look like? The seniors, the management and the whole team, what have you all been talking about looking into the T20 World Cup ahead?

Yeah, look, we know it's been disappointing and we found it disappointing in ourselves. We know that we haven't played our best cricket yet, and the best is yet to come really. So, we've acknowledged it. We're moving on and I think for us, it's just taking those learnings and how we can turn them into looking forward to the series in the T20 World Cup coming up and then obviously India after that. So, yeah, it's, it's just good learning opportunities for us and making sure that we learn from it and not dwell on it too much.

Q: So now coming to the T20 World Cup, you were part of the 50-over World Cup in the Reserves. Now the T20 World Cup is your first outing at the big stage. So, excited, nervous?

Yeah, very excited and very grateful to be a part of this opportunity and experience. Also, very excited and very nervous. But I know that I have a great support crew here with both support staff and players around me. So I know that they're always here to back me, and, you know, I'm here for a reason and I got to show that and  just remember that they back me and they believe that I can do it. So that's why I'm here.

Q: A tough group to start up with, you have to get through India and Australia to get to the knockout stages. So how do you assess that?

Yeah, two very world-class teams, obviously, there is going to be big competition. It definitely helps that we're playing Aussie here for three games. and also helps us prepare well for the T20 World Cup. I guess with T20 cricket, it depends on the day, really, the best team wins. And I think that's the beauty of it all. Like any team can beat anyone on their day. So I think we have to remember that, but also back ourselves and just remember that we can do it and we have all the skills in the group that we need. We just have to make sure we put it out in the field and execute it.

Q: Not generalizing, but UAE is not essentially known for helping the pace bowlers or the fast bowlers. So how does the pace contingent of the White Ferns plan on countering that? Have you all talked about it before you head to the Middle East?

Yeah, there's been some brief chat about it and we know that it's definitely more favoured towards the spinners. And I guess that's just how the game goes sometimes. And obviously, it being originally in Bangladesh, probably more of a spinning wicket with Dubai, it might, especially having some games under lights, it might skid on a bit. So, yeah, I guess it's good having options for both pace and spin. The spinners also have some healthy competition within the squad. So yeah, it's good to have options within the squad.

Q: And this is your first T20 World Cup or your first World Cup for that matter. So, what are some of the expectations that you have set for yourself or some goals that you want to achieve in this outing?

Well, I was excited to be part of the T20 World Cup in South Africa last year, but not having played a game. So, yeah, I guess just being a part of this experience is an awesome opportunity to learn from the girls to learn about the whole World Cup experience and the atmosphere. We know that it can be very back-to-back. We have some games very close together. So it's just kind of  those games on and just making the most of them and making sure that we execute our plans and put our best foot forward.

Q: And Sophie Devine will be departing from the role of the captain after the T20 World Cup is done. So how big of an inspiration or a leader has she been for the team and especially you?

Yeah, so it's been awesome. I have had great support from her since day one, since coming into the squad. She has a lot of knowledge to give and I'm sure there's still more to give out there to the squad. So, yeah, she's a, she's a very inspirational person and player, and she's always there to back you and support you. I think she's really looking forward to having this group towards the T20 World Cup and making sure that we put our best foot forward and kind of go out on a bang.