logo
Star players return as White Ferns name squad for Australia T20Is

Star players return as White Ferns name squad for Australia T20Is

The squad consists of several big names making their return to the side.
Sophie Devine makes her return 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 , 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.
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 the lead the side as interim captain following Sophie Devine's decision to step down after the ICC 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.
Schedule:
1st T20I - Friday 21 March – Eden Park, Auckland,
2nd T20I – Sunday 23 March – Bay Oval, Tauranga,
3rd T20I – Wednesday 26 March – Sky Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand Women News Women's News

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Argentina not overly reliant on Messi, says coach Scaloni
Argentina not overly reliant on Messi, says coach Scaloni

Khaleej Times

time3 hours ago

  • Khaleej Times

Argentina not overly reliant on Messi, says coach Scaloni

Argentina have learned to cope with Lionel Messi's absences and no longer need to rejig the line-up when the Inter Miami forward is not available, manager Lionel Scaloni said ahead of Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Colombia. Since making his senior debut in 2005, Messi has scored 112 goals in 192 appearances for Argentina, winning the World Cup in 2022, two Copa America titles and a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The 37-year-old captain missed Argentina's 1-0 win over Uruguay and 4-1 thrashing of rivals Brazil in March due to injury, with Scaloni's side securing their place at the 2026 World Cup during that international break. He returned to the squad for this month's World Cup qualifiers and made a substitute appearance in Argentina's 1-0 win over Chile last week. "The team is now in a moment where it can play in the same way with Leo (Messi) or without Leo, which used to be more complex in the past as we had to change some players," Scaloni told reporters ahead of the match in Buenos Aires. "But now we don't have this necessity and the team works in the same way, that's good." While Argentina have already qualified for the World Cup in North America, Colombia are in the sixth and final automatic qualification spot and will be looking to put some distance between themselves and seventh-placed Venezuela with a win. Colombia beat Argentina 2-1 when the sides last met in the World Cup qualifiers in September. "It's a great team, and with great players, and it has a clear style that can put you in trouble," Scaloni said. "We've analysed it, we've shown the players their strengths and what we want to take advantage of. It's going to be a nice game, especially because we play at home, so it's good for our people to see the players."

Former West Indies captain Pooran retires from internationals
Former West Indies captain Pooran retires from internationals

Gulf Today

time5 hours ago

  • Gulf Today

Former West Indies captain Pooran retires from internationals

Former West Indies white-ball captain Nicholas Pooran announced his retirement from international duty on Monday. Pooran hit 13 half-centuries in 106 Twenty20 Internationals and amassed 2,275 runs to become West Indies' leading scorer in the shortest format. One of the world's most explosive batters, the 29-year-old smashed 149 sixes in T20 Internationals to stand fifth overall. He served as West Indies' limited overs skipper but gave up the captaincy after their first-round exit from the 2022 T20 World Cup. "This game we love has given and will continue to give so much - joy, purpose, unforgettable memories, and a chance to represent the people of the West Indies," the Trinidadian said in a social media post on Monday. "Wearing that maroon, standing for the anthem, and giving everything I had each time I stepped on the field... it's hard to put into words what that truly means to me. "To have led the team as captain is a privilege I will always hold close to my heart." Pooran last played for West Indies in their 3-0 T20 series defeat by Bangladesh in December last year, while his most recent ODI appearance came in July 2023 against Sri Lanka. "Nicholas officially informed the leadership of his decision to retire from international cricket, bringing to a close a significant chapter in his career," Cricket West Indies said in a statement. "His performances on the field and influence within the team have made a lasting impact on West Indies cricket." Pooran opted to skip West Indies' ongoing T20 series against England, requesting to be rested after playing for the Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League. He is likely to remain active on the lucrative global T20 league circuit. Reuters

Lyon: World Test Championship Final 2025 is an important step to becoming one of the great Australian teams
Lyon: World Test Championship Final 2025 is an important step to becoming one of the great Australian teams

Int'l Cricket Council

time9 hours ago

  • Int'l Cricket Council

Lyon: World Test Championship Final 2025 is an important step to becoming one of the great Australian teams

Nathan Lyon believes the ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 represents a significant step in Australia's quest to become one of the all-time great Test teams. The 37-year-old off-spinner is part of Andrew McDonald's squad to take on South Africa at Lord's in the finale of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle. Australia will be looking to defend the title they won in 2023 after beating India by 209 runs at The Oval, and Lyon, who took the match-winning wicket of Mohammed Siraj in that victory, wants to build on the progress that has been made since then. 'It is important that we look at this week as a celebration piece,' he said. 'We've done incredibly well over the last couple of years, at home and away, and that is something that as a team, we should be really proud of. 'In my eyes, we're on a journey to becoming a great Australian team. We're not there yet, I'm well aware of that, but that's our goal too. 'This game is another step up that ladder.' Australia finished second in the league table during the 2023-25 WTC cycle, having claimed 67.54 per cent of the points on offer to them. They were also the only nation not to lose a series in that time, winning four of the six series they played. Their percentage was only bettered by the table-topping Proteas' 69.44 per cent. Lyon, a New South Wales native, has taken 56 wickets against South Africa in 18 matches during his career and expects nothing less than a fierce contest with the side captained by Temba Bavuma. 'Yes, we've been here before, but South Africa qualified first during this World Test Championship,' he continued. 'Throughout these two years, they've done something really well to finish top, and so they deserve that home changing room leading into this game. 'It's international cricket. We're expecting an extremely hard challenge and there's going to be a lot of problems out there, but we're going to have to be good enough to solve those problems ASAP.' Australia have plenty of firepower within their bowling ranks for this match, with five of those selected within the top 14 of the ICC Men's Test Bowling rankings. Lyon himself sits fifth on that list, with captain Pat Cummins in third, Josh Hazlewood in fourth, with Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland in 11th and 14th, respectively. Cummins (73), Starc (72) and Lyon (66) also currently occupy positions two through four on the leading wicket-takers list for this edition of the WTC, with only India's Jasprit Bumrah ahead of them with 77 wickets. The presence of multiple experienced and skilled bowlers in the Australian camp is only improving the standards in training, revealed Lyon. 'As a bowling squad, we are very proud of where we are currently at,' he said. 'But we're not leaving any stone unturned and we're still trying to get better as a bowling group. 'I feel that spurs each and every one of us on to get better.' Australia last played Test cricket in England during the 2023 Ashes series – the opening contest of the 2023-25 WTC cycle – but many from the squad have since taken the opportunity to return to play on the shores of the old rival. Lyon played for Lancashire in 2024, while Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green and Beau Webster have represented Glamorgan, Gloucestershire and Warwickshire, respectively, this season. Green's stint in England has been particularly impressive, with the all-rounder plundering 467 runs in just five County Championship Division 2 matches at an average of 66.71. He has also scored three hundreds, including match-winning knocks of 128 and 67 not out against Kent in mid-May. And Lyon feels the 26-year-old will learn a lot from his stint in the West Country. 'It's been amazing to have Greeny over here,' he added. 'I think he's played four or five games for Gloucestershire and done really well. So, hopefully, that gives him the confidence to pick things up from where he left off. 'It's important, especially for the younger players, like Greeny, to come over here and play county cricket. 'I feel like you get a lot of understanding of how the game is played over here in these conditions, how the Dukes ball moves around and how the overhead conditions play a role.' ENDS

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store