For some years now, the White Ferns have relied heavily on veterans like Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine and Lea Tahuhu on the international stage.
The emergence of allrounder Amelia Kerr has certainly helped relieve some of that pressure, but the next wave of Kiwi cricket talent has stood up at the right time to take the NZ women to the next level, claiming the T20 World Cup crown over South Africa at Dubai.
To be sure, those self-described 'grandmas' — all members of the team defeated in the 2016 semis — contributed mightily to the triumph, with Bates taking three catches in the field, but she has told Breakfast the performance of the youngsters helped carry this team beyond their previous disappointments.
Bates and Devine also played last time New Zealand reached a World Cup final in 2010, bowing to Australia.
"When we first started, Sophie and I, you didn't play in front of big crowds very often, it was only when you got to a World Cup, whereas these girls have grown up playing in Super Smash on TV," Bates told Breakfast.
The White Ferns have just beaten South Africa in a World Cup final. (Source: Breakfast)
"They're used to the fans and playing in front of big crowds — it's just every day for them at cricket. They didn't have any of the scars from World Cups... a few of us were pretty hurt from a home World Cup, so they've carried the leaders in terms of not worrying what happened before and not worrying what was going to happen.
"We really didn't have too many expectations initially, which I think really helped."
Georgia Plimmer, 20, combined with Bates at the top of the order throughout the tournament, setting the foundation for the Ferns batting effort. In the final, wicketkeeper Izzy Gaze, 20, took a sharp chance behind the stumps to dismiss dangerous Anneke Bosch cheaply, while the three-prong spin attack of Kerr, 24, Fran Jonas, 20, and Eden Carson, 23, proved difficult for opponents to dominate.
"Georgia Plimmer whacking Marizanne Kapp, one of the best bowlers in the world, really set the tone with the bat," said Bates. "From then on, we were confident we could put a good score on and our spin bowlers, through the middle again... they've been the bowlers of the tournament.
"It's just everyone doing their small job. We've really clicked as a team and everyone owning their role.
"It's not been one player stepping up, it's what you wish for in a team sport... everyone contributing. We've had that throughout the whole tournament and today, so really special."
The NZ women began pool play off the back of a 10-game losing streak that had many dismissing their chances of ultimate victory. That changed with an opening win over India.
"Looking back, not that long ago in England, we couldn't win a match," said Bates. "To think and still believe we could still be world champions... if we're honest, we probably doubted that.
"That first game against India, we really started to believe and everyone's been in form at the right time. It's one of those fairy tale stories, where everyone else is doubting you, but we still managed to maintain a little bit of belief that got bigger and bigger as the tournament went on."
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