The New Zealand women’s team led by skipper Sophie Devine have recently announced their squad that witnessed the return of the 29-year-old batter Lauren Down and Mikaela Greig for their upcoming white-ball tour to England. The tour includes a three-match ODI series followed by a five-match T20I series. The series will commence on 26th June 2024 and will conclude on 17th July 2024.
The White Ferns would be keen to bounce back from their white-ball home series defeat against England in March, earlier this year. The 29-year-old batter Lauren Down last played for New Zealand in a ICC Women’s T20 World Cup warm-up match on 8th February 2023 against England at Cape Town and was a part of the White Ferns squad in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. She has been out of action since then, courtesy of a maternity break for becoming a first time mother.
“My partner, I’m very fortunate with him that he can stay at home and help look after Ruby while I’m training and it makes this whole journey a lot easier. There’s been some sleepless nights and then getting up and trying to do a little bit of training, which is a little bit harder than normal, but when you come home at the end of the day and see a little smiling face, it all feels worth it.” White Ferns batter Lauren Down speaks about the support she received from the family during her pregnancy times.
She welcomed her princess daughter, Ruby into this world in January, earlier this year. Just five months after giving birth to her daughter she is gearing up for her return to international cricket for the White Ferns. “Time away from the game was actually quite nice, it was refreshing and then it just sort of made me hungry to get back and just want to get back into the fold as soon as I could. she said. “I knew it was going to be tight in terms of timeframes getting back for this England series, but I just wanted to give myself the best chance that I could to put my hand up and fortunately I’m able to get on the plane next week.” Lauren Down speaks about her time away from the game and getting back into the White Ferns set-up post-recovery.
(Quotes sourced from Espncricinfo)