Suzie Bates, one of the most decorated cricketers globally, continues to chase a major milestone in the 50-over World Cup after lifting the T20 World Cup last year.
Approaching her 38th birthday, Bates attributes part of her renewed motivation and preparation to a season spent playing for Durham in the North-East of England — a move sparked by a conversation with Durham’s director of cricket, Marcus North, and the chance to be part of an exciting new professional environment.
“It was about the chat I had with Marcus about what his vision was and what they were trying to build and the fact that they wanted me to be a part of that got me really excited,” Bates explained. The chance to play alongside young talent at Durham brought freshness to her game, helping her stay motivated as she prepares for her third decade as an international cricketer.
One of the practical reasons behind Bates’ move to England was the opportunity to face strong competition regularly, a sharp contrast to the limited domestic structure in New Zealand. She noted how the 50-over domestic competitions in England feature international standard players, making it an ideal build-up to the forthcoming World Cup.
“I played Lancashire and Kate Cross and Sophie Ecclestone were playing so they had close to an international bowling lineup. It felt like a really strong competition… England just plays so much cricket,” Bates explained, highlighting the heavy and consistent cricketing schedule in England compared to New Zealand and Australia.
Despite New Zealand’s historic T20 World Cup win last year, Bates pointed out the challenges faced in her home country, where the domestic women’s cricket setup remains semi-professional. “In New Zealand, we only have 17 cricket players in the entire country that are able to be professional and train full time,” she said, criticizing the slow pace of professionalization in New Zealand’s domestic women’s cricket.
Bates revealed the limitations imposed by an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that locks female domestic players into retainer contracts considered semi-professional for another couple of years. “We’re nearly into the third or fourth year, so we’re at least two years away from reassessing that and being able to change those contracts and see if we can get them closer to full time,” she added.
Even the men’s professional cricketers in New Zealand only have nine-month contracts, but these allow them to fully commit to cricket. Bates emphasized the juggling act female players outside those 17 professionals must endure, balancing study or part-time work alongside their cricket aspirations.
For Bates, witnessing the global evolution of women’s cricket has been rewarding yet frustrating, as the progress in New Zealand has lagged behind. However, her status as one of the game’s greats has allowed her to seize overseas opportunities and franchise leagues, a luxury not yet afforded to many younger White Ferns.
After winning the T20 World Cup, many assumed Bates would wind down her career, but instead, she has found renewed motivation ahead of another chance at glory in the 50-over World Cup. “Having that feeling of winning a world title almost gave me more motivation, knowing that the 50-over World Cup is just around the corner,” she reflected.
Bates remains driven to improve alongside an evolving game. “Honestly, I’ve never stopped wanting to get better… as the game’s evolved that’s driven me even more to almost keep up and try to get better and grow with the game.”
The 50-over World Cup presents a stiffer challenge than T20s for New Zealand, who have struggled to reach the knockout stages in recent years. Facing a rigorous international calendar and with the Olympics looming, Bates acknowledges there will always be targets to pursue.
“I know I’m close to the end… I love every minute of it still, and the body’s going OK. I just love trying to get better and keeping up,” she said, highlighting her passion and competitive spirit as she looks toward the future.
Bates’ season in England, coupled with her insight into the professional challenges at home, underscores both progresses made, and the work still needed to elevate women’s cricket in New Zealand. Her journey reflects the broader narrative of the women’s game globally — a tale of rapid growth, rich opportunity, and the ongoing fight for professionalism.
(Quotes sourced from Wisden)
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