Auckland, March 18 (IANS) Sophie Devine, Amelia Kerr, and Lea Tahuhu are set to rejoin the New Zealand squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Australia, starting March 21.
Meanwhile, Suzie Bates will continue as the interim captain following the 1-1 series draw against Sri Lanka, which concluded earlier on Tuesday.
The T20 World Cup champions will take on Trans-Tasman rivals in three T20Is in Auckland, Tauranga, and Wellington, starting on Friday at Eden Park.
Devine returns following a well-being break that ruled her out of the Super Smash, Women’s Premier League (WPL) and the home series against Sri Lanka.
ICC’s Women’s Cricketer of the Year, Melie Kerr, returns home from the WPL 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 final, where she scored 43 off 38 and took three for 24 guiding the side to a 32-run victory.
New Zealand pace attack welcomes back senior bowler Lea Tahuhu following hamstring injuries that have kept her sidelined from international cricket since December.
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 T20I, passed fitness tests on Monday and will travel with the team to Auckland.
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.
White Ferns 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. They’re three key players who bring a wealth of experience and leadership to the group,” said Sawyer.
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.”
Squad: Suzie Bates (c), Eden Carson, Sophie Devine, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Polly Inglis, Bella James, Fran Jonas, Jess Kerr, Amelia Kerr, Rosemary Mair Georgia Plimmer, Lea Tahuhu.
–IANS
ab/