Brief History of New Zealand Women’s National Cricket Team
The New Zealand women’s national cricket team, known as the White Ferns, represents New Zealand in international women’s cricket. Competing in the ICC Women’s Championship, which is the top tier of women’s cricket, the team is overseen by New Zealand Cricket, a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Historical Highlights – New Zealand Women’s National Cricket Team
Red-Ball History:
New Zealand made its Test debut against England from February 16–18, 1935, at Lancaster Park in Christchurch. This match marked New Zealand as the third team to compete at this level, nearly five years after their male counterparts. Their first-ever Test series was hosted with Ruth Symons as captain.
New Zealand’s first away Test series took place against England in 1954, under the captaincy of Rona McKenzie. The series comprised three matches, with two ending in draws and one won by England.
The last Test match New Zealand played dates back to August 21, 2004, at Scarborough against England. Since then, they have not played any further Test matches.
One-Day International History:
The White Ferns played their first One Day Internationals (ODIs) against Trinidad and Tobago at Clarence Park, St Albans, on June 23, 1973. Under the captaincy of Bev Brentnall, New Zealand secured a comfortable victory, winning the match by 136 runs.
Twenty20 International History:
The White Ferns played their first Women’s T20 International (WT20I) against England at the County Cricket Ground in Hove on August 5, 2004, under the captaincy of Maia Lewis. New Zealand won the match by 9 runs. Their inaugural WT20I against Australia took place on March 6, 2008, at Lincoln, with Haidee Tiffen leading the team. New Zealand secured victory in that match by 4 wickets.
New Zealand Cricket Salary:
In 2022, a 5-year deal significantly increased match fees for New Zealand’s women cricketers (White Ferns): Rs 4.94 lakh for a Test, Rs 1.92 lakh for an ODI, and Rs 1.20 lakh for a T20I. Centrally contracted players saw their maximum retainer rise to Rs 78.76 lakh, up from a previous minimum of Rs 68.67 lakh.
The 2023-24 New Zealand contract players list includes 17 cricketers, featuring established stars like Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine, alongside emerging talents such as Eden Carson and Georgia Plimmer.
Tournament Highlights – New Zealand Women’s National Cricket Team
ICC Women’s World Cup
New Zealand’s Women’s Cricket team has participated in the World Cup since 1973, with their performance varying over the years. Their best achievement came in 2000 when they won the championship. They’ve also reached the finals thrice, finishing as runners-up in 1993, 1997 and 2009. The team has secured third place four times – in 1973, 1978, 1982, and 1988. Their performance in recent years has been less stellar, with a Super Six stage exit in 2013 and group stage eliminations in 2017 and 2022. Throughout their World Cup history, New Zealand has consistently qualified for the tournament, demonstrating their status as a competitive team in women’s cricket, despite some fluctuations in their performance over the decades.
| Year | Position |
| 1973 | Third place |
| 1978 | Third place |
| 1982 | Third place |
| 1988 | Third place |
| 1993 | Second place |
| 1997 | Second place |
| 2000 | Champions |
| 2005 | Semi final |
| 2009 | Second place |
| 2013 | Super sixes |
| 2017 | Group stage |
| 2022 | Group stage |
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup
New Zealand’s Women’s T20 Cricket team has participated in all editions of the T20 World Cup since its inception in 2009. Their strongest performances came in the early years of the tournament, with second place finishes in both 2009 and 2010, narrowly missing out on the title. They also reached the semi-finals twice, in 2012 and 2016, showing their competitiveness in the shorter format of the game. However, in recent years, their performance has declined somewhat. Since 2014, they’ve struggled to progress beyond the group stage in most tournaments, finishing fifth in 2014, 2018, 2020, and 2023. Despite these challenges, New Zealand has been a consistent presence in the T20 World Cup, reflecting their standing as a regular competitor in women’s T20 cricket on the global stage.
| Year | Position |
| 2009 | Second place |
| 2010 | Second place |
| 2012 | Semi-final |
| 2014 | Group stage |
| 2016 | Semi-final |
| 2018 | Group Stage |
| 2020 | Group Stage |
| 2023 | Group Stage |
Domestic Tournament:
New Zealand Cricket Women’s One-Day Competition
The Hallyburton Johnstone Shield is the premier domestic women’s one-day cricket competition in New Zealand. The tournament was first played in 1935–36 as a first-class competition but has now transitioned into a 50-over competition, with six provincial teams – Auckland, Canterbury, Central Districts, Northern Districts, Otago and Wellington – competing. The most successful side in the history of the competition is Canterbury with 38 title wins, plus 1 shared title, while Otago are the current champions.
Women’s Super Smash
The Women’s Super Smash, New Zealand’s premier women’s T20 cricket tournament, has been organized by New Zealand Cricket since 2007-08. It features six teams competing in a double round-robin format, with the top team advancing directly to the final, while the second and third-placed teams play an elimination final. Running alongside the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield, this tournament showcases New Zealand’s cricketing talent and develops future stars. Wellington Blaze are the current champions, having won their eighth title in the 2023-24 season. The Women’s Super Smash plays a crucial role in New Zealand’s cricket landscape, highlighting the country’s commitment to women’s cricket and providing exciting, high-level competition.
