Auckland, Mar 19 (UNI) Sophie Devine makes her comeback following a well-being break, which
had kept her out of the Super Smash, Women’s Premier League, and New Zealand’s recent series against Sri Lanka.
ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year Melie Kerr also returns after a successful stint in the Women’s Premier League, where she claimed her second title.
The all-rounder's last T20I appearance for New Zealand was in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final, where the 24-year-old was named Player of the Match in a title-winning performance.
Squad:
Suzie Bates (c) , Eden Carson, Sophie Devine, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Polly Inglis, Bella James, Fran Jonas, Jess Kerr, Melie Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Georgia Plimmer, Lea Tahuhu.
The remainder of the squad remains largely unchanged from the side that drew the T20I series with Sri Lanka, with Emma McLeod, Izzy Sharp, Flora Devonshire, and Bree Illing making way for the returning Devine, Kerr, Tahuhu and Bella James, who is yet to make her T20I debut.
The reigning T20 World Cup champions will face their counterparts Down Under, alongside the Black Caps and Pakistan in T20I double-headers across Auckland, Tauranga, and Wellington, an ICC report said.
Recently, the side played a three-match ODI & T20I series against Sri Lanka at home, with New Zealand winning the ODI series 2-0 and drawing the T20I series 1-1, with a game being washed out in both formats.
Suzie Bates was the pick among the sides as she scored 99 runs at an average of 33 and a strike rate of 112.50 in the T20I series and was the top scorer. Bates will continue to the lead the side as interim captain following Devine’s decision to step down after the Women’s T20 World Cup last year.
White Ferns Head Coach, Ben Sawyer expressed his delight in welcoming back three key players to his side.
“We’re thrilled to have Soph, Melie, and Lea back for this series, they bring invaluable experience and leadership to the team," he said.
Devine, speaking on her return, said, “It’s been nice to have some time to reset and refocus. I’m really looking forward to getting back out there with the girls.”
New Zealand take on Australia in their first game on March 21 at Eden Park in Auckland.
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