Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates and Lea Tahuhu have been named in New Zealand’s squad for the five-match T20I series against South Africa, starting 15 March at Bay Oval. All three sat out the recent fixtures with Zimbabwe for differing reasons and their return gives head coach Ben Sawyer close to a full hand as preparations for June’s Women’s T20 World Cup gather pace.
Devine, currently on a casual deal with New Zealand Cricket, made herself unavailable for the Zimbabwe tour. Bates missed that trip with a quadricep strain, while fast bowler Tahuhu – who has called time on her ODI career – was managed as part of what NZC labelled “physical-preparation planning”. She will be available only from the third match onwards, a decision taken to manage her workload rather than any fresh fitness concern.
“We’re really excited to welcome back Suzie and Sophie for this next block of games,” Sawyer said. “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.”
Opener Georgia Plimmer is also back after a shoulder injury curtailed her Zimbabwe series. She is expected to resume her partnership at the top with Bates – the pair were central to New Zealand’s World Cup triumph last year. “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,” Sawyer noted. “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.”
All-rounder Flora Devonshire, 23, returns from a broken finger and, like Tahuhu, is pencilled in for the last three matches only. The left-arm spinner is one of just two left-handed batters in the squad, Brooke Halliday being the other. Devonshire’s progress has been stop–start over the past 12 months. “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,” Sawyer said. “It’s really pleasing to be able to have her back in the group, fit and firing for when we need her.”
New Zealand have also called up left-arm quick Bree Illing and wicketkeeper-batter Polly Inglis for the opening two fixtures. The duo will make way once Tahuhu and Devonshire come in. The selection panel continues to juggle resources with an eye on the global tournament, meaning short-term roles for fringe players should not be read as mere stopgaps.
All five women’s fixtures will be afternoon starts, followed in the evening by the men’s sides at the same venues – a double-header arrangement NZC hopes will boost crowd numbers and give players exposure to bigger match-day atmospheres. This is the second series under Amelia Kerr’s full-time captaincy; her leadership during the Zimbabwe tour drew praise for clarity of plans, though the standard of fielding was openly acknowledged as an area for improvement.
South Africa, meanwhile, arrive with a settled core but minus a couple of senior quicks who are being rested after a heavy domestic schedule. They remain strong through the middle order, and their spinners prospered on New Zealand pitches during last season’s tour – a small yet telling subplot.
New Zealand squad: Amelia Kerr (capt), Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine, Flora Devonshire (matches 3-5), Isabella Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing (matches 1-2), Polly Inglis (matches 1-2), Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Nensi Patel, Georgia Plimmer, Izzy Sharp, Lea Tahuhu (matches 3-5).
Plenty of moving parts, then, but the spine of a world-champion outfit is back together. If Devine, Bates and Tahuhu hit the ground running, Kerr’s side should feel they have momentum again – even if the coaching staff will quietly be monitoring workloads as closely as the scorebook.
