International calendar resumes for Sri Lanka and New Zealand amidst the blockbuster ongoing 3rd edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025. The Suzie Bates-led White Ferns are hosting the Sri Lanka led by skipper Chamari Athapaththu for a white-ball bilateral three-match ODI series followed by a three-match T20I series from 4th March 2025.
With a keen eye on forming a formidable squad for the upcoming ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 in India, both sides have a relatively new look squad for this bilateral series. In this article, we will have a look at the list of debutants in the 1st ODI.
Debutants from New Zealand:
Bree Illing
The 21-year-old young left-arm seamer Bree Illing earned her maiden call-up to the White Ferns squad for the white-ball series against Sri Lanka. In the recently concluded 50-over domestic competition in New Zealand, the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield 2024-2025, she ended the tournament as the leading wicket-taker for Auckland Hearts and the 2nd highest wicket-taker of the tournament with 21 wickets at an average of 21.09 and an economy of 4.55 in 11 innings.
Her best performance for the Hearts in the tournament came on 30th November 2024, returning with match figures of 9-0-39-4 in her spell against Central Hinds. In the Super Smash, domestic T20 competition, she picked up 8 wickets at an average of 24.50 and an economy of 5.44 in 10 innings for her side in the tournament.
Emma McLeod
The young 18-year-old sensation, an all-rounder Emma McLeod, recently represented Central Hinds in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield 2024-2025. She was the 2nd highest run-scorer for her side in the tournament with 300 runs at an impressive average of 42.85 in eight innings.
Her tally of runs included a couple of half-centuries, with her best performance of 68* off 99 balls, coming on 15th December 2024, against the Canterbury Magicians. She was also a part of New Zealand’s campaign in the 2nd edition of the ICC Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup 2025 in Malaysia. She scored 81 runs in five innings with the bat for her side in the tournament.
Polly Inglis
The seasoned 28-year-old wicket-keeper batter Polly Inglis scored 340 runs at an impressive average of 42.50 and in nine innings with the bat for Otago Sparks in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield 2024-2025. Her tally of runs includes a couple of half-centuries, with her best performance of 97 off 89 balls for her side coming on 22nd February 2025 against the Central Hinds. In the Super Smash, she scored 172 runs at an impressive average of 28.66 in 11 innings with the bat for her side in the tournament.
Debutants from Sri Lanka:
Chethana Vimukthi
The young 23-year-old youngster is slotted in as an all-rounder in the squad for the white-ball series against New Zealand. She was impressive with the ball for the visitors in a couple of warm-up games, returning figures of 8-0-34-1 and 8-1-37-1.
Manudi Nanayakkara
The Sri Lankan Under-19 skipper Manudi Nanayakkara also was impressive in a couple of 50-over warm-up games, scoring 34 off 37 balls and 58 off 59 balls. She also inspirationally led the Sri Lankan young brigade in the 2nd edition of the ICC Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup 2025 in Malaysia.
Nanayakkara scored 72 runs at an average of 18 in four innings with the bat for her side in the tournament. Besides her contributions with the bat, she had also picked up three wickets at an impressive average of 9.33 and an economy of 5.60 in three innings with the ball for her side in the tournament.
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