Durham Women have bolstered their ranks with a landmark signing ahead of their debut campaign in the newly restructured Tier One county competition, bringing on board New Zealand legend Suzie Bates as their first-ever overseas player.
Widely regarded as one of the most accomplished all-rounders in the women’s game, the 37-year-old brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the squad.
Bates played a pivotal role in New Zealand’s successful T20 World Cup campaign last year, finishing as the joint-top scorer for her side and underlining her enduring class on the international stage.
She joins Durham on a season-long contract that will see her feature across both the One Day Cup and the T20 Blast, providing a major boost to the club’s ambitions as they embark on this new chapter. Her presence not only strengthens the playing XI but also adds invaluable mentorship for a relatively young squad preparing to test themselves against the best in the country.
Bates has the experience of captaining her national side for over seven years and was lately found in wearing the same role hat in the recently concluded limited-overs bilateral series against Sri Lanka. In 2022, she led a dominating Oval Invincibles side to their second Hundred title, and has also represented Perth Scorchers, Birmingham Phoenix and Adelaide Strikers, as well as Hampshire and Kent.
On being a part of a new side, the 37-year-old said, “I am so excited to join Durham for the inaugural season in the One-Day Cup and Vitality Blast. I can’t wait to get over to Durham and join a talented squad and add my experience to the group and get stuck into the season,” she added.
Suzie Bates’ international credentials speak volumes about her remarkable consistency and longevity in limited overs cricket. In 178 One Day Internationals, she has amassed an impressive 5,896 runs at an average about to clock 40, showcasing remarkable display of batting over the years. Her record includes 37 half-centuries and 10 centuries, underlining her ability to bat for longer durations as well as accelerate as the situation demands.
In the shortest format, Bates has featured in 174 T20 internationals, scoring 4,716 runs and registering 28 fifties—making her one of the most miraculous and prolific batters in the global T20 circuit.
Durham director of cricket, Marcus North, said: “It is great to welcome Suzie to Durham as our first ever women’s overseas professional player. This is an historic moment for Durham, and we are thrilled to welcome a player of Suzie’s caliber to the club.”
North added that Suzie Bates’ record internationally and domestically is second to none, and with a wide range of experience across the globe, she will be the perfect fit for their group going into the 2025 season. He added that he can’t wait for her to join them in the next few weeks, calling it a hugely exciting chapter for Durham Cricket.
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