Suzie Bates, a name synonymous with excellence, longevity, and leadership in women’s cricket, entered the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 with an aura of reliability that few in the sport can match. For over a decade, the New Zealand veteran had defined consistency at the world stage, scoring a century in every ODI World Cup she had played. But the 2025 edition turned out to be an unexpected chapter in her otherwise glittering career, one that tested even the most steadfast of champions.
Coming into the tournament, Bates’ record was enviable. In gear up for the World Cup, Bates signed up with Durham in the English Women’s One Day Cup, underlining her pedigree, where she finished second on the team’s run charts with 467 runs, including the highest of 163. Everything suggested that Bates, the ever-dependable opener, would once again set the tone for New Zealand’s World Cup ambitions.
Yet, cricket, even the great leveller had other plans. Across five innings in the 2025 World Cup, Bates could muster only 40 runs. It was a sequence marked by uncharacteristic dismissals and visible frustration. Her tournament began with a nine-ball duck against defending champions Australia, followed by a golden duck against South Africa, a match that was supposed to be celebratory, as she became the first woman to reach 350 international appearances.
A solitary run against India further deepened the rut, turning what was meant to be another hallmark campaign into an emotional and statistical anomaly. For a player who once towered over bowlers on the world stage, with memorable knocks like her 168 against Pakistan in 2009, 106* against Sri Lanka in their 2017 opener, and a commanding 126 against Pakistan in the home 2022 World Cup, the 2025 edition marked a sudden break in her World Cup rhythm.
This was, quite simply, the end of a remarkable streak of dominance that had stretched across four tournaments. The warning signs were faint but present in the months leading up to the tournament. During New Zealand’s ODI tour of England in mid-2024, the White Ferns were swept 3-0, and while Bates shone in the T20Is, her performances in the 50-over format lacked the fluency she was known for. She struggled to convert starts, often falling before imposing herself on the innings.
Despite the personal disappointment, Bates’ campaign wasn’t devoid of significance. Her appearance in the South Africa fixture etched her name into history as the first woman to play 350 international matches, a landmark that underlines both her longevity and the immense contribution she has made to New Zealand cricket and the global women’s game.
The World Cup may not have unfolded as she envisioned, but the numbers and moments that define Suzie Bates remain untouchable. Over 18 years of service, 10, 642 runs across formats, leadership through multiple eras, and a reputation built on calm authority and sporting grace, these are her true legacies.
As she looks ahead, whether toward resurgence or reflection, one thing remains certain: Suzie Bates has already done enough to be immortalized among the greats. This World Cup may have halted a streak, but it cannot touch a legacy built on decades of excellence, endurance, and elegance.
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