Bates on top of the world

White Ferns Captain Suzie Bates has continued her sensational season, rising to number one on the ICC Women’s ODI batting rankings.
 
The 25 year-old has been in prolific form for the New Zealand side in 2012-13, making 681 runs from 11 One Day matches at an average of 75.66. That includes five half centuries and two centuries, with her 122* against Australia leading a dazzling highlights package.

She led the White Ferns side to a fourth place finish in the recent ICC Women’s World Cup in India, averaging 67.83 from seven innings. At the conclusion of the tournament she was named Player of the Tournament and captain of the Tournament Team.

Her dynamic approach to batting has always made her dangerous, but it’s her level of consistency which has seen her become the world’s most feared batsmen. Bates scored five consecutive half-centuries over the Rose Bowl and World Cup and only had one score under 30 (21) across the entire international summer.

Those statistics have reflected on the rankings, climbing to the top spot in ODIs and number four in Twenty20s. She’s one of two players (England’s Charlotte Edwards the other) to be in the top-four of both formats.

Her value is unquestionable – something which hasn’t gone unnoticed by New Zealand Cricket (NZC). Bates was one of four White Ferns players last week to be awarded a professional contract by NZC, allowing her to focus solely on cricket. She is currently training towards the White Ferns tour of the West Indies in October.

*Bates recently picked up the Player of the Year award for her domestic side, the Otago Sparks. She scored 708 domestic runs at an average of 117.50.