The WHITE FERNS will welcome back Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine, Georgia Plimmer, and Flora Devonshire for the upcoming five-match Life Direct T20I series against South Africa.
Bates (quad tear), Devonshire (broken finger), and Plimmer (shoulder) have all come through their rehabilitation and will be available for the series which gets underway at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Sunday.
The five-match series will be played as double-header game-days alongside the BLACKCAPS and South Africa men’s KFC T20I series – allowing Kiwi fans the chance to watch all four teams play on the same day.
Devine is also set to make her return to the side for the first time since the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in India in October, as the WHITE FERNS continue their preparation to defend their title ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England later this year.
Head Coach Ben Sawyer said the injection of Bates and Devine’s experience could only do good things for the team.
“We’re really excited to welcome back Suzie and Sophie for this next block of games.
“Their quality on the field really does speak for itself but what they bring to the group culturally is really important for us as a team. I’m looking forward to having them mix in with some of the newer members of the squad.”
Sawyer expressed his excitement at having Plimmer available again.
“It was unfortunate to have Georgia miss out on most of the Zimbabwe series with her shoulder, so the whole group is glad to have her back.
“Her role at the top of the order is a key one and it’ll be great to have her back as we continue to build toward that World Cup later in the year."
Sawyer expressed his sympathy for Devonshire, who was ruled out of the recent Zimbabwe series with a hand injury just months after being ruled out of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in India.
“Flora had a couple of back-to-back injuries that has kept her out of the squad for the last little while which is never nice as a player.
“It’s really pleasing to be able to have her back in the group, fit and firing for when we need her.”
The squad features 15 players, with Auckland Hearts’ Bree Illing and Otago Sparks’ Polly Inglis making way for Devonshire and Canterbury Magicians’ Lea Tahuhu after the first two T20Is.
Sawyer explained the selections were all in the name of ensuring good preparation for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
“As we can only take 13 at a time in our squads, we’re having a few moving parts to try and get more of our players involved in what is an important series ahead of the World Cup.”
The WHITE FERNS will play their five-match series as part of a stretch of double-headers alongside the BLACKCAPS and the Proteas.
The first double-header is at Bay Oval in Tauranga on Sunday 15 March.
T20 Squad - South Africa Double Headers
Melie Kerr (C) – Wellington Blaze
Suzie Bates – Otago Sparks
Sophie Devine – Wellington Blaze
Flora Devonshire** – Central Hinds
Izzy Gaze – Auckland Hearts
Maddy Green – Auckland Hearts
Brooke Halliday – Auckland Hearts
Bree Illing* – Auckland Hearts
Polly Inglis* – Otago Sparks
Jess Kerr – Wellington Blaze
Rosemary Mair - Central Hinds
Nensi Patel – Northern Brave
Georgia Plimmer – Wellington Blaze
Izzy Sharp – Canterbury Magicians
Lea Tahuhu** – Canterbury Magicians
*first two T20’s only
**last three T20’s only
