New Zealand’s best women’s cricketers are set to battle it out in the much-anticipated North vs South One-Day series, kicking off on March 28, 2025, at Lincoln University’s Bert Sutcliffe Oval.
The three-match contest, a key feature in the country’s high-performance pathway, will showcase a blend of seasoned White Ferns and emerging young talent as they vie for dominance in the domestic arena.
Following the intense T20I series against Australia, several centrally contracted White Ferns have been named in the squads. Maddy Green, Jess Kerr, Fran Jonas, and Hannah Rowe will strengthen the North, while Polly Inglis, Hayley Jensen, and Eden Carson bolster the South.
Adding further excitement, recent White Ferns debutantes Emma McLeod, Flora Devonshire, and Bree Illing will take the field for the North, while Izzy Sharp and Bella James bring their international experience to the South.
The series will also see fresh faces eager to make an impact. Northern Brave skipper Jess Watkin joins the North squad for the first time after a remarkable domestic season.
Another exciting addition is 18-year-old Eve Wolland, a rising star from the New Zealand U19 ranks, who has already displayed immense potential in her young professional career. The South side, on the other hand, will introduce Hallyburton Johnstone Shield champions Anna Browning and Poppy Jay Watkins, who join eight of their Otago teammates in a squad brimming with talent.
New Zealand Cricket’s High-Performance Coach, Sara McGlashan, highlighted the significance of the event, praising the depth of talent across both teams. “The depth of talent across the country is really encouraging,” McGlashan said.
“There’s been strong competition for places and those selected have displayed the attributes we are looking for at the next level.” With a mix of established White Ferns and promising young players, the series is expected to be a thrilling contest, testing the resilience and skill of those aspiring for higher honors.
The North vs South series, which was reinstated in the 2022-23 season, plays a crucial role in preparing domestic players for international cricket. NZC Head of Women’s High-Performance Development, Liz Green, emphasized the importance of this initiative. “We have spent the last two years building an aspirational pathway between domestic and international cricket for our best female athletes, and the North vs South series plays an important part in this,” Green explained.
“These matches give players an opportunity to put their hand up for the New Zealand A squad which will be selected after the series, and to be part of central winter development programmes.” She also praised the enthusiasm of the players, noting that the competitive nature of the series would push individuals to step up and showcase their abilities.
Several senior White Ferns players have been rested or ruled out due to injuries. Sophie Devine, Melie Kerr, Suzie Bates, and Fran Jonas have been given a break under NZC directives, while Brooke Halliday, Georgia Plimmer, Rosemary Mair, and Lea Tahuhu are also sidelined for rest and injury management. Additionally, Molly Penfold, Lauren Down, and Izzy Gaze will miss out due to injuries.
Cricket fans can look forward to three highly competitive encounters at Lincoln University. The first match will be played on Friday, 28 March, at 10:30 AM, followed by the second on Sunday, 30 March, at 10:30 AM, and the final showdown on Tuesday, 2 April, at 10:00 AM. All matches will be free entry, with live scoring available on nzc.nz and the NZC App. Additionally, fans can catch the live stream on NZC’s YouTube channel.
With a perfect blend of experience and youth, the North vs South series promises to be a thrilling contest, setting the stage for New Zealand’s future cricketing stars to make their mark.
North Squad:
Maddy Green (C), Ocean Bartlett, Flora Devonshire, Kate Gaging, Amie Hucker, Bree Illing, Jess Kerr, Emma McLeod, Nensi Patel, Josie Penfold, Hannah Rowe, Saachi Shahri, Jess Watkin, Eve Wolland
South Squad:
Hayley Jensen (C), Sarah Asmussen, Missy Banks, Emma Black, Caitlin Blakely, Anna Browning, Eden Carson, Olivia Gain, Polly Inglis, Bella James, Louisa Kotkamp, Izzy Sharp, Jess Simmons, Poppy Jay Watkins
Loves all things female cricket
