Photo Credit: ICC
Sophie Devine will lead a WHITE FERNS squad with an experienced core and a sprinkling of youthful exuberance at the upcoming ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022, in New Zealand.
Amy Satterthwaite will be Devine’s deputy; that pair along with Suzie Bates making their fourth appearance at an ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup.
Wicket-keeper Katey Martin and experienced quick Lea Tahuhu are set to feature in their third World Cup and have over 150 ODI appearances between them.
The squad features three frontline spin options with Melie Kerr and Frankie Mackay joined by young Auckland Hearts left-arm spinner, Fran Jonas, who wasn’t born the last time the World Cup was held in New Zealand in 2000.
Hannah Rowe, Rosemary Mair and Jess Kerr round out the seam bowling options for the WHITE FERNS with Rowe making her second appearance at the 50-over showpiece.
Maddy Green, Lauren Down and Brooke Halliday take the specialist batting spots in the squad while Hayley Jensen fills the seam-bowling all-rounders role.
WHITE FERNS head coach, Bob Carter, said it was a difficult squad to pick and those selected should be immensely proud.
“I would like to congratulate the 15 players selected to represent the WHITE FERNS at the World Cup here in New Zealand,” Carter said.
“It doesn’t get much better than competing at a World Cup in your home country and I know the entire team and support staff are really excited by the prospect.
“We feel we have a balanced squad providing multiple options with bat and ball to cover the range of conditions we’re likely to face around the country.
“Naturally, there were some tough decisions and no doubt some disappointed players but as a selection group we felt this mix would give us the best chance.
“There’s a strong mix of youth and experience in this squad with several players having multiple World Cups under their belt.
“We also have a younger group coming through, six of which are yet to experience World Cup cricket – and it’s naturally a very exciting time for those players.”
Carter noted there’s been a buzz around the group for a while and said both the players and support staff were excited, and keen to get underway on March 4.
“It’s been a pleasure working with this group for an extended period of time. We’ve had this pinnacle event on our radar for a while and I know the whole squad has put in a lot of work to get to this point.”
“We feel we have the best 15 players in the country and are ready for the challenge ahead.”
WHITE FERNS ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Squad
Sophie Devine (Wellington Blaze) (c)
Amy Satterthwaite (Canterbury Magicians) (vc)
Suzie Bates (Otago Sparks)
Lauren Down (Auckland Hearts)
Maddy Green (Wellington Blaze)
Brooke Halliday (Northern Districts Women)
Hayley Jensen (Otago Sparks)
Fran Jonas (Auckland Hearts)
Jess Kerr (Wellington Blaze)
Melie Kerr (Wellington Blaze)
Frankie Mackay (Canterbury Magicians)
Rosemary Mair (Central Hinds)
Katey Martin (Otago Sparks)
Hannah Rowe (Central Hinds)
Lea Tahuhu (Canterbury Magicians)
*The WHITE FERNS will carry the same 15 players for their series against India Women, with all matches to be played at John Davies Oval in Queenstown.
Notables for WHITE FERNS at ICC Women’s Cricket World Cups
Suzie Bates needs 76 runs to reach 1000 runs in World Cups. She would be second player to do this for New Zealand after Debbie Hockley whose 1501 runs (and 45 matches) are records for all countries.
Catherine Campbell (29) is New Zealand’s top wicket taker in World Cups. In the 2022 squad, Lea Tahuhu has 16 World Cup wickets.
Fran Jonas wasn’t born last time New Zealand won the World Cup (23 Dec 2000) and Melie Kerr was two-months old.
Notables for WHITE FERNS in ODI cricket
Only 15 players have reached 50 wickets for New Zealand in ODIs and four of them (Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine, Melie Kerr and Lea Tahuhu) are in this World Cup squad (Amy Satterthwaite on 46 wickets).
Amy Satterthwaite (133) and Suzie Bates (130) are both poised to go past Sara McGlashan’s NZ record of 134 ODIs.
Sophie Devine (2806) could become the 4th WHITE FERN to reach 3000 ODI runs.
Aimee Watkins (92) is NZ’s highest wicket taker in ODIs and Sophie Devine and Lea Tahuhu both have 82 wickets.
Suzie Bates and Amy Satterthwaite are two of only three WHITE FERNS to have scored 4000 ODI runs – the other member of the club is current NZC President and 2000 World Cup winner – Debbie Hockley.
Name of Author: New Zealand Cricket
The New Zealand national cricket team, known as the Black Caps, made their Test debut in 1930 against England in Christchurch, becoming the fifth nation to play Test cricket. After waiting 26 years for their first Test win against the West Indies in 1956, they also played their first ODI in 1972–73 against Pakistan. New Zealand are the inaugural World Test Championship champions (2021) and have won the ICC Champions Trophy (2000). They have reached the Cricket World Cup final twice and the T20 World Cup final once.
