ICC Ranked 4th ODI Team New Zealand step-in the 2025 Women’s World Cup, having won the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup. However, the White Ferns, who hosted the latest edition of the tournament in 2022, had a disappointing outing back then at home, winning only three of their seven matches and finishing sixth on the points table. Yet, they have a rich history to draw inspiration from, having lifted the World Cup title in 2000 under Emily Drumm, and being one of the three teams to have lifted the prized title. They will aim to pocket the ODI title too under the leadership of Sophie Devine, who will retire from ODI cricket post the carnival in India and Sri Lanka.
SWOT Analysis
Strengths
ODI Stalwarts Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates team up for one final time
One of New Zealand’s biggest strengths is their experienced duo that will be at the helm for the thirteenth edition of the mega event. Skipper Sophie Devine will be appearing in her fifth and final ODI World Cup at the age of 36. With over 3,900 runs and more than 100 wickets in 152 ODIs, she is arguably one of the finest all-rounders in women’s cricket. The White Ferns will rely on her powerful batting at the top and clever bowling skills to set the tone for one final time in her international career.
Alongside her, Suzie Bates, New Zealand’s leading run-scorer in ODIs, will also be featuring in her fifth World Cup. At 37, Bates has amassed nearly 5,900 runs in 171 games and will once again join forces with Devine for what promises to be a memorable farewell on the world stage.
Team of match-winning all-rounders
Another major strength for New Zealand lies in their pool of talented all-rounders. Their success in last year’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup showed how valuable players who can both bat and bowl are, and the White Ferns will lean on this once again.
The team blends experience with youth. Veterans like Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates bring calm and skill, while Melie Kerr adds her international flair, having been named Player of the Tournament in Dubai. Exciting newcomers, such as 22-year-old Flora Devonshire, also provide fresh energy. Devonshire impressed in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield with more than 250 runs and 18 wickets, giving the team more balance in the middle order and extra options in the bowling department.
Weaknesses
New Zealand’s recent form in ODIs shows some clear weaknesses. In the ICC Women’s Championship, they finished sixth, winning just 9 out of 24 matches. Before their series win against Sri Lanka in March 2025, they had suffered losses against Australia, England, and India, highlighting their struggles against top teams. On top of that, the team will have to adapt to challenging conditions, including hot and humid weather, which could test their fitness and stamina over the course of the tournament.
Opportunities
Opportunities for New Zealand lie in the fresh faces in their squad. Since the 2022 World Cup they hosted, the team has gone through a transition and now includes six players who will be making their debut in a 50-over World Cup, along with four others playing their first senior ICC event.
One of the biggest opportunities comes from Flora Devonshire, who has the chance to fill the role left by Fran Jonas. Jonas had taken 20 wickets in 26 matches, but Devonshire brings her own all-round skills with both bat and ball, giving the team a new dimension.
Illing, just 21, broke into the national side against Sri Lanka in March, immediately impressing with four wickets and later topping the wicket charts on the New Zealand A tour of England.
Threats
Though New Zealand are the reigning T20 World Champions, they have a point to prove in ODI cricket – the format they have least prioritised in recent times. They have not managed to reach the knockout rounds of an ODI World Cup since they were runners-up in 2009. With Sophie Devine’s retirement, other more experienced and promising players will need to step up in their leadership roles.
Their recent results have been patchy – they were swept by England (3-0) and lost a series against India (2-1) and Australia (2-0), although they did recently defeat Sri Lanka in an ODI series in March 2025 (2-0). The White Ferns will have to deal with this pressure if they expect to go far in the tournament.
New Zealand’s Squad for Women’s World Cup 2025:
Sophie Devine (C), Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Flora Devonshire, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis, Bella James, Jess Kerr, Amelia Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Georgia Plimmer, Lea Tahuhu
New Zealand’s Fixtures for Women’s World Cup 2025:
1 October 2025: vs Australia – Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore
6 October 2025: vs South Africa – Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore
10 October 2025: vs Bangladesh – Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
14 October 2025: vs Sri Lanka – R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
18 October 2025: vs Pakistan – R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
23 October 2025: vs India – Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai
25 October 2025: vs England – ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam
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