The New Zealand women’s cricket team, the White Ferns, are set to bring a fresh wave of talent into the international arena as they gear up for a thrilling home series against Sri Lanka.
The selectors have introduced three promising uncapped players to the 16-member squad—Emma McLeod, Izzy Sharp, and Bree Illing—all of whom have previously represented New Zealand at the Under-19 level. The inclusion of these rising stars signals a shift towards nurturing young talent ahead of the upcoming ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in India.
At just 18, Central Hinds all-rounder Emma McLeod earns her maiden international call-up following an impressive domestic season. She recently showcased her skills at her second ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup, and her consistent performances in the Hallyburton Johnstone (HBJ) Shield have been hard to ignore. Averaging 42.85 with the bat and ranking among the competition’s top run-scorers with 300 runs coming from 8 matches.
Joining McLeod in the squad is 20-year-old Izzy Sharp, a batter for the Canterbury Magicians where she scored 203 runs from 10 matches, and she is also the former captain of New Zealand’s 2023 Under-19 World Cup squad.
The third debutant, Bree Illing, a 21-year-old left-arm seamer from the Auckland Hearts, has had a breakout domestic season. Illing was a standout performer in the Super Smash, ending the tournament with 8 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 5.44, frequently bowling in pressure situations during the powerplay. Her consistent wicket-taking ability also made her the third-highest wicket-taker in the HBJ Shield, with 19 wickets from 10 matches at an average of 21.10.
White Ferns head coach Ben Sawyer expressed his confidence in the trio’s ability to adapt to the demands of international cricket, “Emma, Bree and Izzy have been identified by Major Association and NZC coaches as players who have the desired competencies and skill sets to be effective in international cricket,” Sawyer stated.
He elaborated on McLeod’s contributions with the bat, emphasizing her knack for finding gaps and her quick running between the wickets, “Emma’s been in good form in the HBJ Shield and her ability to hit through the off-side and run well between the wickets is really valuable.”
On Sharp’s ability to tackle spin, Sawyer added, “Izzy impressed us with how she attacks spin, which is something that will come in handy this series.”
For Illing, Sawyer highlighted her aggressive approach with the ball, “The way Bree attacks the stumps and swings the ball back into the right-hander is really important in the international game.”
The squad also welcomes back Georgia Plimmer, who returns after a frustrating injury layoff due to a bone stress reaction in her hip. Plimmer’s last outing was during the ODI series against India in November. Polly Inglis receives her second call-up and is yet to debut internationally despite her consistent domestic form for the Otago Sparks.
Meanwhile, New Zealand’s bowling department has been hit by injuries. Lea Tahuhu (hamstring) and Rosemary Mair (elbow) are both recovering from setbacks sustained during the Super Smash, while Molly Penfold will miss the remainder of the home summer following a meniscus tear. Mair is expected to be fit for the T20I series against Sri Lanka starting March 14, while Tahuhu is eyeing a return for the Australia series later that month.
With the World Cup in India approaching, Sawyer is keen on testing the team’s skills against Sri Lanka’s formidable spin attack, “Sri Lanka’s a tough opposition with a number of world-class spinners. Facing their spin unit is always a challenge but it will be great prep for us ahead of the World Cup,” Sawyer explained.
He also emphasized the importance of experimenting with team combinations, “We will try different combinations this series, and I’m looking forward to seeing players adapt to different roles. It’s an opportunity to test batters in different positions and try different bowlers opening up and at the death.”
Veteran Suzie Bates will take on the role of interim captain in the absence of Sophie Devine, who is taking a well-deserved well-being break. Devine recently stepped down from T20I captaincy after the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, and her permanent successor is yet to be named. Notably, all-rounder Amelia Kerr will also miss the series due to her commitments with the Mumbai Indians in the WPL.
The team will regroup on March 2 in Napier following the HBJ Shield final. The three-match ODI series will kick off on March 4 in Napier before moving to Nelson for matches on March 7 and 9. The T20I series will follow soon after, with fixtures scheduled on March 14 and 16 in Christchurch, before concluding in Dunedin on March 18.
New Zealand Women’s Squad for Sri Lanka Series:
ODI Squad –
Suzie Bates (C), Eden Carson, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis, Bella James, Hayley Jensen, Fran Jonas, Jess Kerr, Emma McLeod, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe
T20I Squad –
Suzie Bates (C), Eden Carson, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bella James, Hayley Jensen, Fran Jonas, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Emma McLeod, Georgia Plimmer, Izzy Sharp
(Quotes sourced from NZC Press Release)
Loves all things female cricket
