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 prior to the 2009/10 season in order to focus on her teaching career and further her tertiary education.

‘Canterbury Cricket has set measurable goals around the development of women’s and girls cricket in Canterbury. We intend to not only increase participation numbers but also increase the profile of the women’s arm of the sport in our region, especially considering Canterbury has enjoyed the greatest on field success of any Major Association. Having Haidee involved is a real coup for us. 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’ said Canterbury Cricket CEO Lee Germon.

Although her playing days are now behind her Tiffen says the passion she has for women’s cricket, especially in Canterbury, has not gone and always hoped an opportunity would present itself where she can 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. When the opportunity was presented to me to become the first Women’s Cricket Ambassador it was really a no brainer. It is a fantastic initiative and shows a real focus on growing women’s cricket’ said Tiffen.

Tiffen debuted for the White Ferns during the 1998/99 season at the age of 19 against South Africa in Hamilton. She played in 117 One Day Internationals during the course of her career racking up 2919 runs including 18 half centuries and a high score of 100. As an all rounder she was called on to bowl in 44 of these matches taking 49 wickets at an average of 19.48 meaning she was acknowledged as one of the best women’s cricketers in the world during her career.