The White Ferns are more than ready to welcome back Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine, Georgia Plimmer, and Flora Devonshire for a five-match Life Direct T20I series against South Africa. Bates, who suffered a quad tear, Devonshire, who broke her finger, and Plimmer, who hurt her shoulder, have all successfully completed their rehabilitation periods and are fit to return for the start of the series at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui this Sunday.
The five-match series, according to BettingTop10 Ireland, will be played as a double-header game days alongside the BLACKCAPS and South Africa men’s KFC T20I series, allowing Kiwi fans the opportunity to see all four teams play on the same day. Devine will also make her return to the team for the first time since the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup India last October, as the White Ferns continue their build-up towards defending their title at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England later this year.
White Ferns Head Coach Ben Sawyer said having Bates and Devine available to play would be beneficial for the team in many ways. Here’s what he had to say:
“Having Suzie and Sophie back brings with it a lot of experience, and both being back available for selection can only strengthen our group. “They’re quality players, and what they bring on the field speaks for itself, but culturally what they can bring to the group is really important for us moving forward as a team. I can’t wait to see them mix with some of the newer members of the squad.”
Devonshire was ruled out of the recently concluded Zimbabwe series with a broken finger. Sawyer said he felt for Devonshire, who had missed out on the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup India through injury earlier in the year.
“Flora has had back-to-back injuries which have kept her out of the squad for the last while, which isn’t great as a player to happen, but really pleasing we can have her back fit and firing and ready to go when we need her.”
Forwards of deviation, Auckland Hearts’ Bree Illing and Otago Sparks’ Polly Inglis make way for Devonshire and Canterbury Magicians’ Lea Tahuhu after T20Is one and two. Coach Sawyer said selections had been made purely to ensure the squad was as prepared as they could be for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup later in the year.
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