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Kiwi Cricket Kōrero host and writer Vincent Jones writes on the White Ferns’ T20 World Cup squad (originally written 20/1/23)
Bernadine Bezuidenhout has been rewarded for her domestic success this summer with a recall to the White Ferns squad for the T20 World Cup. The New Zealand squad was announced this morning and all the players in the squad are listed below with a short analysis about them.
Bernadine Bezuidenhout
Position: Wicket-Keeper Batter
Team: Northern Districts
T20I Caps: 9 for NZ + 7 for SA
Number: 12
Bezuidenhout is recalled after a two-year break from international cricket and four years since she last played a T20I. Since her return to the Northern Districts set up she has been in fine form with a 50 and a 100 in her first two games for the side in the HBJ competition. As the main wicket-keeper in the side, she’ll be expected to play most of the games for the Kiwi side. Bezuidenhout currently averages 22.16 in the Super Smash this season, with a high score of 41.
Lauren Down
Position: Batter
Team: Auckland
T20I Caps: 13
Number: 18
Down has been a regular in the New Zealand side in the ODI format, but has yet to stamp her mark on the T20I side. Down would consider herself a leader in the side having made her debut in 2020, and captaining Auckland at a domestic level. Whilst she currently has a high score of 17 in T20I, she hasn’t been given a chance to get runs as she is usually coming in down the order. In the Super Smash season so far, she averages 22.2 with a high score of 44*.
Fran Jonas
Position: Bowler
Team: Auckland
T20I Caps: 12
Number: 26
Jonas made her T20 debut at the Commonwealth Games in 2022. At 16, she received her maiden call-up to the ODI side and made her debut in that series as well. She has been able to make major strides over the last few months, including opening the bowling in multiple T20I matches with her left-arm spin. Currently, she is injured but is hoping to be fit in time for the World Cup. Jonas has taken 6 wickets in the Super Smash so far and is averaging 1.5 wickets per game.
Molly Penfold
Position: Bowler
Team: Auckland
T20I Caps: 1
Number: 15
Penfold hasn’t had much international experience, only playing one T20I and five ODIs for her country. Having only played 21 T20s in her career for Auckland, she has yet to really prove herself in the format but has always been able to perform even if she doesn’t pick up wickets. Penfold has been on a few tours for the side but has usually had to sit on the bench. She will be hoping that she gets more opportunities in the World Cup. Penfold isn’t coming into the tournament with much form however as she has only taken three wickets at 0.6 per game and scored 8 runs at an average of four.
Brooke Halliday
Position: All-Rounder
Team: Northern Districts
T20I Caps: 16
Number: 68
Halliday had a fine start to her international career for the White Ferns, making two 50s in her first two games for New Zealand. After being out since the second game of the HBJ Shield and only recently being back playing for the Northern side. Halliday will be looking to add to her 16 T20 caps, and also want to get more opportunities with the bat and the ball. Halliday will be looking to bat higher up the order so she can contribute more runs. In her one game of Super Smash this season, she scored five runs and took one wicket.
Sophie Devine - Captain
Position: All-Rounder
Team: Wellington
T20I Caps: 115
Number: 77
New Zealand captain, Sophie Devine has had an amazing international career and in every game, she plays in the silver fern, she just looks classy. Averaging just a tick under 30 and a strike rate over 120 shows that she truly has lived up to her potential. Whilst she has only played two games in the Super Smash this season, she has taken four wickets and scored 10 runs including a golden duck.
Amelia Kerr
Position: All-Rounder
Team: Wellington
T20I Caps: 55
Number: 48
Amelia Kerr is a talented player and needs no introduction about her fabulous career to date. Having played over 50 games in both formats for her country, she is highly regarded by all players, even though she is 22. Having made her debut over 6 years ago, she has proven with both ball and bat that she is an incredibly talented player. Whilst she has not got a fifty in the T20 side, she has taken over 50 wickets and has helped New Zealand win many games. Kerr has had a fine Super Smash season to date, currently averaging 54 with the bat and a high score of 73*. She hasn’t been able to take a lot of wickets this season but has been able to slow the run rate and made some good decisions as captain of the Wellington side.
Jess Kerr
Position: Bowler
Team: Wellington
T20I Caps: 18
Number: 24
Ever since her debut back in 2020, Jess Kerr has been at the front of the New Zealand bowling attack. Whilst she only has 12 wickets in her 18 T20I games, she is sitting at a fine economy rate of 5.48. Kerr is mainly known for her inswing and she is able to bowl at most stages of the game, but is particularly good with the new ball. Kerr has had a good start to the Super Smash this season having taken 9 wickets, at 1.5 per game. She has also contributed 23 runs with the bat.
Suzie Bates
Position: Batter
Team: Otago
T20I Caps: 139
Number: 23
Bates has been a long stay in the New Zealand side ever since her debut back in 2007. Bates has a phenomenal record behind her averaging 29.23 in the T20Is. Bates is a true leader and her determination and over 3500 runs. Bates has had an amazing Super Smash season to date, scoring a 100 and scores of 76 and 75 as well. Bates is also currently averaging 73.25 with the bat. Bates has also bowled some overs with the ball, taking three wickets in three games for her side.
Maddy Green
Position: Batter
Team: Wellington
T20I Caps: 74
Number: 5
Green has improved her batting a lot of the last year. She has been given more opportunity with the bat and this has clearly shown this season. Green has been a mainstay in the New Zealand side, having 74 caps for the national team. She has been selected in the side as the back-up keeper to Bezuidenhout as well. Green has had a great Super Smash season to date averaging 35.66 with a high score of 45*.
Lea Tahuhu
Position: Bowler
Team: Canterbury
T20I Caps: 71
Number: 6
Tahuhu had a tough start to 2022, losing her national contract. Since then, she has only improved greatly. Taking a record haul for her with 4/6 against Bangladesh in December showed her fight and determination to try and get back into the side and get the games that she deserves. Tahuhu hasn’t had much time to show with the bat only getting three innings and a high score of 16. Tahuhu has taken 6 wickets in her 6 games, and three has been the most in an innings this season for her.
Hayley Jensen
Position: Bowler
Team: Otago
T20I Caps: 51
Number: 87
Jensen recently bought up her 50th cap for the New Zealand side and will be looking to add to this at the World Cup. She has usually been used as a floater in the New Zealand side and is known as a power hitter in the line-up. Jensen has taken 46 wickets in T20 Internationals and will be looking to bring up 50 wickets in T20I at the World Cup. She has only taken one wicket so far in the Super Smash and only scored 8 runs in two innings, so she will want to try and get some time in the middle at the World Cup and contribute with the ball as well.
Hannah Rowe
Position: Bowling Allrounder
Team: Central Districts
T20I Caps: 32
Number: 74
Rowe is a high quality player in her seven years in the national set up. She has yet to prove herself with the ball and bat in T20I format, only taking 15 wickets in 32 matches so far. She has had a season to remember with both the bat and ball in the Super Smash, having scored 111 runs at 22.2 and taken 8 wickets at 1.33 per game.
Eden Carson
Position: Bowler
Team: Otago
T20I Caps: 8
Number: 4
Carson has only played a handful of matches but has taken 11 wickets so far with a best of 2/12. Being her first international World Cup, Carson will be wanting to shine and show the selectors here talent. Currently, she isn’t in the best of form in the Super Smash having taken 5 wickets in four games at 1.25 runs per game.
Georgia Plimmer
Position: Batter
Team: Wellington
T20I Caps: 10
Number: 58
Plimmer hasn’t had the best of starts to her international career having only scored 51 runs at 7.28 in her nine international innings. As she is only young, this tournament will help her gain experience and hopefully give her the confidence to become a mainstay in the New Zealand line-up. Plimmer is currently in South Africa at the U19 Women’s T20 WC so was only able to play three Super Smash games. She averages 16.33 and a highest score of 25.
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