WHITE FERNS captain Suzie Bates has arrived back in New Zealand ahead of the WHITE FERNS tour to South Africa. Bates has enjoyed a busy winter, she featured for English side Kent and also played in the new English Kia Super League tournament for the Southern Vipers.
Over the last couple of years Bates has been in devastating form, and she continued that great touch during the English summer. In Twenty20’s she hit 232 runs at an average of 46.40, which helped her side the Southern Vipers win the first ever addition of the Kia Super League.
Bates is hoping her experience in England will help the WHITE FERNS during next year’s ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup.
“I took a lot of learnings from playing over there. Hopefully the experience will help us in the World Cup next year.”
The WHITE FERNS have a very busy schedule ahead of next year’s world cup, beginning with a tour of South Africa. Bates is excited about the tour but also weary of the challenge that the South African side poses.
“Once we get over to South Africa and acclimatise, I know we are all looking forward to the series. South Africa are a really good side, especially at home.”
The WHITE FERNS recently took part in a training camp at Mount Maunganui’s Bay Oval in preparation for their first ever tour to South Africa.
“A lot of us have never played in South Africa so it should be a really good series and with the World Cup not far around the corner it’s going to be a really good build up for us.”
Bates, now a very experienced Twenty20 player thinks that the 50 over format is seen as the highest form of women’s cricket.
“I think all the girls love Twenty20 but we still find that 50 over cricket and the World Cup is the pinnacle of the girl’s game.”
The WHITE FERNS have seven One Day Internationals against the South Africans, with the first three carrying extra standing, as both teams will be vying for ICC Women’s Championship points.
After a fantastic last 12 months for Bates, including picking up Wisden’s Leading Women’s Cricketer of the Year Award, she knows that her and her teammates will need to be ready if they want to beat South Africa in their own conditions.
The team leaves for South Africa at the end of September and play their first ODI on the 8th of October.
