New Zealand becomes the 13th team to announce their squad for the upcoming 2nd edition of the ICC Women’s Under-19 World Cup 2025. The 19-year-old all-rounder Tash Wakelin has been appointed as the skipper of the side for the upcoming edition from 18th January (Saturday).
The junior White Ferns were last involved in an under-19 tri-nation series involving Sri Lanka and the hosts Australia in September–October 2024. The series was played in a T20 as well as in a One Day format.
The Tash Wakelin-led side had a horrible time in the tri-nation series as they ended the series as the only side to remain winless in the series across T20 and One Day formats. Eve Wolland was the joint leading run-scorer for New Zealand with Izzy Sharp in the T20 format with 62 runs in four innings with the bat for her side. As far as the One Day format is concerned, Emma McLeod was the joint leading run-scorer for New Zealand alongside Abby Treder, with 43 runs in a couple of innings with the bat for her side in the Tri-nation series.
When it comes to the bowling department, Anika Todd was the leading wicket-taker with the ball for New Zealand and the joint 2nd highest wicket-taker in the T20 format, with 6 wickets at an impressive average of 13.33 and an economy of 6.67 in three innings alongside Pramudi Methsara of the Tri-nation series. In the One Day format, Rishika Jaswal was the leading wicket-taker for her side as well as in the series with 6 wickets at an impressive average of 14.50 and an economy of 4.54 in a couple of innings for her side in the series.
The White Ferns secured an automatic qualification for the upcoming 2nd edition of the ICC Women’s Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia from 18th January 2025. In the inaugural edition, the White Ferns led by former skipper Izzy Sharp were knocked out by India led by skipper Shafali Verma by 8 wickets in the 1st semi-final at Potchefstroom, South Africa.
New Zealand Squad for the Under-19 World Cup 2025:
Tash Wakelin (C), Elizabeth Buchanan, Kate Chandler, Sophie Court, Hannah Francis, Kate Irwin, Rishika Jaswal, Louisa Kotkamp, Ayaan Lambat, Emma McLeod, Hannah O’Connor, Darcy-Rose Prasad, Anika Tauwhare, Anika Todd, Eve Wolland
Notably, as many as 6 players namely, Kate Chandler, Kate Irwin, Louisa Kotkamp, Emma McLeod, Izzy Sharp, and Tash Wakelin were also a part of the inaugural White Ferns squad for the Under-19 World Cup in South Africa in 2023. The experience of these people will come in handy for their side in the upcoming edition of the tournament.
Emma McLeod scored 93 runs at a sensational strike rate of 150 and an impressive average of 31 in three innings. Her tally of runs includes one half-century (59 off 39 balls) against Rwanda on 21st January 2023. Izzy Sharp scored 35 runs in three innings with the bat for her side in the inaugural edition of the ICC Women’s Under-19 World Cup. Kate Irwin scored 16 runs in three innings, Tash Wakelin scored 8 runs in one innings, and Kate Chandler scored 7 runs in one innings with the bat for her side in the inaugural edition.
On the bowling front, Tash Wakelin was the leading wicket-taker for New Zealand with 6 wickets in four innings at a sensational average of 7.83 and an economy of 4.27 in the inaugural edition of the ICC Women’s Under-19 World Cup in South Africa. Her best performance with the ball for her side in the tournament came on 15th January 2023 against Indonesia when she returned with impressive match figures (4-0-14-3) in her spell.
Kate Chandler was the joint 2nd highest wicket-taker for New Zealand alongside Natasha Cody and Olivia Anderson with 5 wickets at an impressive average of 10.40 and an economy of 6.50 in three innings with the ball for her side in the inaugural edition of the ICC Women’s Under-19 World Cup 2025. Her best performance with the ball in the tournament came on 19th January 2023 against the West Indies when she returned with exceptional match figures (4-2-8-3) in her spell.
The White Ferns are placed in Group C alongside the likes of South Africa, Samoa, and Nigeria. The Tash Wakelin-led side will kickstart their campaign in the upcoming 2nd edition of the tournament against South Africa led by skipper Kayla Reyneke in the 6th game of the opening day of the tournament on 18th January 2025 (Saturday) at Borneo Cricket Ground, Kuching from 12 PM Indian Standard Time (IST).
The final of the 2nd edition of the tournament will be played on 2nd February 2025 (Sunday) at the Bayuemas Oval, Kuala Lumpur from 12 PM IST.
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