The White Ferns home summer is set to finish on a high as stars Sophie Devine, Melie Kerr and Lea Tahuhu return to the T20I squad to face Australia.
The T20 World Champions will take on Trans-Tasman rivals in three T20I-doubleheaders alongside the Black Caps and Pakistan in Auckland, Tauranga, and Wellington, starting on Friday 21 March at Eden Park.
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Devine returns following a well-being break that ruled her out of the Dream11 Super Smash, Women’s Premiere League, and the home series against Sri Lanka.
ICC’s Women’s Cricketer of the Year, Melie Kerr, returns home from the Women’s Premiere League after claiming her second title with the Mumbai Indians.
Kerr’s last T20I outing for New Zealand was a player-of-the-match-performance at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup grand final, where she scored 43 off 38 and took three for 24 guiding New Zealand to a 32-run victory.
The White Ferns pace attack welcomes back senior bowler Lea Tahuhu following hamstring injuries that have kept her sidelined from international cricket since December.
Otago Sparks batter Bella James also returns following a quadricep strain that ruled her out of the recent ODI and T20I series against Sri Lanka.
James, who is uncapped in international T20 cricket, passed fitness tests yesterday and will travel with the team to Auckland today.
Wicketkeeper-batter Izzy Gaze, who was also ruled out of the T20I series against Sri Lanka with a hip flexor sprain she picked up during the 3rd ODI, will not take part in the series as she requires further rehabilitation before returning to play.
Polly Inglis, who made her international debut in both white-ball formats this month, will replace Gaze.
The remainder of the squad looks familiar to the side that drew the T20I series against Sri Lanka this week, with Emma McLeod, Izzy Sharp, Flora Devonshire and Bree Illing coming out to make way for Devine, Kerr, James and Tahuhu’s return.
Suzie Bates will continue as interim captain for the series after Devine stepped down as T20I captain at the conclusion of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
New Zealand head coach Ben Sawyer said he was pleased to get three senior players back.
“We’re stoked to have Soph, Melie and Lea back for this series,” said Sawyer.
“They’re three key players who bring a wealth of experience and leadership to the group.”
Sawyer said Devine felt ready to return to cricket.
“Soph’s had some time away from the game and is now in a space where she’s looking forward to getting back out on the park.
“Everyone knows the power she possesses and what an asset she is to any team, so we’re really pleased to have her back for what we know will be a competitive series.”
Devine said she was excited to be back with the team.
“It’s nice to have had some time to reset and refocus and I’m really looking forward to getting back out there with the girls.”
White Ferns Squad:
Suzie Bates (C) Otago Sparks
Eden Carson Otago Sparks
Sophie Devine Wellington Blaze
Maddy Green Auckland Hearts
Brooke Halliday Auckland Hearts
Polly Inglis Otago Sparks
Bella James Otago Sparks
Fran Jonas Auckland Hearts
Jess Kerr Wellington Blaze
Melie Kerr Wellington Blaze
Rosemary Mair Central Hinds
Georgia Plimmer Wellington Blaze
Lea Tahuhu Canterbury Magicians
The T20I series will be broadcast live and free in New Zealand on TVNZ 1, TVNZ+, and Sport Nation, with live scoring available at nzc.nz and the NZC App.
Schedule:
1st T20I - Friday 21 March – Eden Park, Auckland, 2.45pm
2nd T20I – Sunday 23 March – Bay Oval, Tauranga, 2.45pm
3rd T20I – Wednesday 26 March – Sky Stadium, Wellington, 2.45pm