Suzie Bates’ summer is over before it really began. The veteran all-rounder has been ruled out for roughly 12 weeks after tearing a quadricep while fielding for Otago in last month’s Hallyburton Johnstone Shield fixture. The timing means she will not face Zimbabwe in February-March and, barring an unexpectedly quick recovery, won’t take any part in the remainder of the domestic Super Smash either.
Scans, taken a few days after the incident, showed a deeper tear than first feared. New Zealand Cricket’s medical staff have put a three-month rehabilitation plan in place; no surgery is needed but the rehab is described as “pretty intensive”. The setback follows Eden Carson’s elbow injury, leaving the White Ferns short of experience as they build towards next year’s South Africa tour.
“I’m gutted to be missing out this summer, I was really looking forward to another season with the Sparks, especially the Super Smash,” Bates admitted in an NZC release. “I’m determined to get back on the field with the White Ferns in March, so that’ll be my focus for now.”
It has been a tricky spell for the 38-year-old. At the recent ODI World Cup in India, Bates scraped 40 runs from five innings, nowhere near her usual standards. Yet her fielding and bowling still held up, which explains the frustration of being injured while doing one of those basic tasks.
Coaching staff say they’ll reassess her fitness during the South Africa build-up. A return in March feels realistic, provided the leg heals as planned.
