The White Ferns, led by the stand-in skipper Suzie Bates, will be hosting Sri Lanka, led by skipper Chamari Athapaththu, for a bilateral white-ball series that will include a three-match ODI series followed by a three-match T20I series from 4th March 2025. The 37-year-old experienced veteran Suzie Bates has been named the interim captain for both white-ball series as the regular ODI skipper Sophie Devine is on a well-deserved break to focus on her well-being.
The home side recently announced the new-look squad for their white-ball series against Sri Lanka. The under-19 stars Emma McLeod and Izzy Sharp, along with uncapped Bree Illing, have earned a call-up to the senior squad for the upcoming series. The former White Ferns captain, Amy Satterthwaite, has joined the New Zealand XI coaching staff for a couple of upcoming 50-over warm-up games against Sri Lanka in Lincoln.
This move marks a significant milestone not only for Satterthwaite, who is widely regarded as one of New Zealand’s greatest female cricketers, but also for the future of women’s cricket in New Zealand. Amy Satterthwaite’s prowess on the cricket field is undeniable, having played 256 internationals before announcing her retirement in 2022.
Her transition into coaching has been seamless, reflecting her passion for the game and her desire to give back to the sport that has given her so much. Prior to this role, Satterthwaite has been working as a Female Pathways Coach for Canterbury Cricket and was an assistant coach for the Adelaide Strikers, who won the Women’s Big Bash tournament twice under her guidance.
Satterthwaite joins forces with NZC High Performance coach Sara McGlashan and Canterbury Magicians head coach Rhys Morgan to lead the New Zealand XI team. Her involvement in the coaching staff signals a commitment to nurturing talent and fostering growth among young players. Satterthwaite expressed her enthusiasm for this new challenge, emphasizing the value of coaching in helping players build confidence and hone their skills against international competitors.
Several up-and-coming domestic talents have been rewarded for an outstanding domestic season, earning calls up for the warm-up fixtures. From Canterbury Magicians, the likes of Kate Anderson (262 runs & 4 wickets), and Jess Simmons, who is the joint 3rd highest wicket-taker for the Magicians, with 9 wickets with the ball and 55 runs with the bat for her side, have found spots.
While from Central Hinds, Emma McLeod, who was the 2nd highest run-scorer for her side with 300 runs, and three wickets with the ball, along with Flora Devonshire who was the 3rd highest run-scorer for her side with 266 runs and the joint 2nd highest wicket-taker for her side with 18 wickets, and Ocean Bartlett, who is currently the joint highest wicket-taker of the tournament with 20 wickets, have all made the cut.
From the Northern Districts, Nensi Patel, who was the 2nd highest run-scorer for her side with 245 runs and 3rd on the list of wicket-takers for her side with 9 scalps to her name, feature in the squad, as do Jess Watkin with 229 runs and 10 wickets with the ball was 2nd in the list of wicket-takers for Northern Districts and Eve Wolland who was also a part of New Zealand’s under-19 squad for the 2nd edition in Malaysia also scored 157 runs and picked up one wicket for her side with the ball, for her side.
New Zealand XI Squad:
Jess Watkin (C), Kate Anderson, Ocean Bartlett, Flora Devonshire, Marama Downes, Kate Gaging, Claudia Green, Brooke Halliday, Emma McLeod, Nensi Patel, Georgia Plimmer, Izzy Sharp, Jess Simmons, Eve Wolland
The upcoming warm-up fixtures against Sri Lanka will present an invaluable opportunity for preparation ahead of the series for the new recruits, a glimpse of the things that lie ahead of them at the international level, and Georgia Plimmer, in particular, as she returns to the national setup for the first time since picking an injury late last year.
The warm-up matches are scheduled for Thursday, February 27, and Friday, February 28, at Bert Sutcliffe Oval, starting at 10 AM. The tickets will be free to attend, allowing fans to support their favorite players in person. Additionally, the matches will be live-streamed on NZC’s YouTube channel and live-scored on the NZC website and app, ensuring that the action is accessible to a broader audience.
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