Four players – Flora Devonshire, Nensi Patel, Emma McLeod and Izzy Sharp – have been picked for their first overseas one-day international trip, named in a 15-strong New Zealand squad heading to England next month for six white-ball matches. All four earned caps during home wins over Zimbabwe and South Africa earlier in the year; now they get a crack at touring life under captain Melie Kerr.
Suzie Bates is also on the plane for what will double as her ODI send-off. The veteran confirmed she will call time on international cricket once the T20 World Cup in June wraps up, so the three ODIs in Durham, Worcester and Bristol, starting 10 May, will be her last in the 50-over format.
Head coach Ben Sawyer wants the mix of youth and experience tested quickly. “England is a tough side to beat in their home conditions – so it’s a good chance to test ourselves,” Sawyer said. “We’ve got some exciting young talent in this squad with the likes of Emma, Izzy, Nensi, and Flora, alongside our core group of seasoned campaigners,” he added. “Our younger players are finding their feet in international cricket but they’ve proved they have what it takes to succeed at this level.”
The tour moves straight into three T20 internationals – useful match-practice with a global tournament looming. A separate T20I squad is due on Wednesday, although the bulk of this group is expected to stay on.
Spin-bowling all-rounders Devonshire and Patel, plus top-order batters McLeod and Sharp, give New Zealand options. Whether that versatility translates into wins in early-season English conditions will be the key subplot.
New Zealand ODI squad: Melie Kerr (capt), Suzie Bates, Flora Devonshire, Izzy Gaze (wk), Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis, Jess Kerr, Emma McLeod, Rosemary Mair, Nensi Patel, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Izzy Sharp.
