Sideline Sid Sports correspondant & historian www.sunlive.co.nz

At the risk of repeating myself at this time of year – the depths of winter in July always brings a smile to Sideline Sid's face, as we are over the hump of the shortest day and are another day closer to the start of the new cricket season.

Expectations for the coming season are seen through rose tinted glasses and the disappointments from last season are all but gone.

The prospects for higher honours, whether chasing a professional contract or seeking a place in the Bay of Plenty representative squads, are already in serious training.

Gym passes have been renewed and bats, pads and gloves cleaned off from accumulated dust.

For a select group of elite players the season goes on twelve months of the year.

Bay of Plenty has punched above their weight in recent times with the selection of homegrown international cricket players.

Who can forget the heroics of Trent Boult and Kane Williamson in the 2015 Cricket World Cup, at the bottom of the world.

Daniel Flynn and Graeme Aldridge have also worn the Black Cap uniform in the recent seasons, while two other Black Caps in Cory Anderson and Dean Brownlie has chosen to make the Western Bay their home.

However, one Bay of Plenty player who earned first earned New Zealand Cricket representation in 20012 flies under the media radar.

Current White Fern Anna Peterson, while born in the City of Sails, learnt all her early cricket skills in the Western Bay of Plenty.

Anna attended St Mary's School and Aquinas College from where she made her Bay of Plenty Senior Women's side debut.

The talented all-rounder also earned selection for the Northern Spirit, while still attending the Western Bay secondary school.

From her initial selection, Anna became an automatic first pick for the ND Women's flagship side until her departure last season to play for the Auckland Hearts.

On the first day of March in 2012, she became the first Bay of Plenty player to be selected for the White Ferns when she took to the field in an ODI against the touring England Women's team.

Last season, the former Bay of Plenty all-rounder cemented a place in the New Zealand Women's side.

Anna's best performance in the New Zealand uniform came at the Bay Oval at Mount Maunganui against England.

The visitors got away to a strong start before the introduction of Peterson.

On the last ball of her first over, Anna grabbed the valuable wicket of Sarah Taylor.

Anna took another wicket in her second over and finished the match as the Kiwi side's best bowler, after taking four wickets at a cost of just 25 runs.

In her last few seasons with the Bay of Plenty Women's team, Anna took on a leadership role, to mentor the large number of emerging youngsters in the team.

She liked nothing better than to lead by example when in the Bay of Plenty uniform, with her highest score coming against ND Women's heavyweight Hamilton in the 2013/14 season.

Bay of Plenty posted 185/3 in the T20 match-up with Peterson blasting a majestic 107 not out.