Down Returns From Maternity Leave, Greig Earns First Overseas Callup for Tour to England

Lauren Down has earned a recall to the New Zealand side having taken a break to have her first child. The batter last featured at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup before announcing she wouldn’t play last summer due to her pregnancy. 

Central Hinds batter and the holder of the White Ferns T20I cap number 206, Mikaela Greig also earns a place in the squad. 

Down has played 41 internationals, and will feature in just the ODI squad with White Ferns coach Ben Sawyer stating that they were “pleased to have her back” and that “this tour feels like the right time to bring her back into the fold.

Sophie Devine will again captain the side featuring regulars like Amelia Kerr and Suzie Bates. It is also another opportunity for wicket-keeper Izzy Gaze to show her skills having been one of the standouts in the England tour to Aotearoa earlier this year.

Pacer Lea Tahuhu and spinning all-rounder Leigh Kasperek will only feature in the T20I part of the series with Tahuhu staying in New Zealand for the birth of her second child.

Devine, Kerr, and Bates will lead the batting department but they will have support from Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, and Georgia Plimmer. Following Bernie Bezuidenhout’s announcement that she has retired from international cricket, there is a spot at the top of the order to open with Bates.

Eden Carson and Fran Jonas will join Kerr in the spin department, whilst Melie’s sister Jess, Hannah Rowe, and Molly Penfold complete the squad.

Rosemary Mair (back) and Hayley Jensen (rehabilitation from a calf injury) weren’t considered for selection in the squad. 

Sawyer also said that there is an opportunity for both Greig and Down to have chances with the T20 and One Day World Cups looming shortly. 

Dean Brownlie will help Sawyer as batting coach whilst Gareth Davies also joins the squad as the tour coach.

WHITE FERNS squad to England

Sophie Devine (C)

Suzie Bates

Eden Carson

Lauren Down (ODI only)

Izzy Gaze (WK)

Maddy Green

Mikaela Greig

Brooke Halliday

Fran Jonas

Leigh Kasperek (T20I only)

Jess Kerr

Melie Kerr

Molly Penfold

Georgia Plimmer

Hannah Rowe

Lea Tahuhu