Louisa Kotkamp is about to experience her first World Cup T20 cricket tournament.
The former St Peter’s College pupil is part of the White Ferns’ under-19 team taking part in the inaugural International Cricket Council Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup.
Initially named as a nontravelling reserve, Louisa (17) was called into the team after another player was injured.
Louisa attended St Mary’s School and St Peter’s College in Gore, before moving to Dunedin with her family in 2022.
She now attends Columba College.
Her father, Ronnie Kotkamp, said Louisa was ‘‘super excited’’ to get the call-up.
‘‘Her parents had tears in their eyes,’’ Mr Kotkamp said.
His daughter had been playing consistently for the Otago under-19 T20 team opening the batting and bowling, he said.
‘‘She’s pretty much an allrounder.
‘‘She’s a very good fielder.’’
She was selected as a bowler for the White Ferns.
‘‘She’s quite quick,’’ Mr Kotkamp said.
Louisa was captain of the Otago under-19 team and had been training with the Otago Sparks.
Warm-up games for the tournament began yesterday, New Zealand time, and run for two days, ahead of the first tournament match on January 14.
Sixteen teams will compete in the two-week event across four venues in South Africa, with 41 matches scheduled to take place.
New Zealand is in Group C alongside Ireland, Indonesia and West Indies.
The top three sides from each group will advance to the round-robin Super Six stage, from which the four semifinalists will emerge.
