Dunedin’s University of Otago Oval will temporarily hand its naming rights over to their former student Suzie Bates next week as the WHITE FERNS open the NZC International home summer against Pakistan.
‘Suzie Bates Oval’ will play host to the second game of Life Direct T20I series on Tuesday to honour the Dunedin trailblazer who became just the third woman in the world to play 300 Internationals on the recent tour of South Africa.
Bates’ family, friends, teammates, and coaches will be on hand in Dunedin to mark the occasion with the hashtag #SB300 to be used online.
The 36-year-old was included in a familiar looking WHITE FERNS squad named today for the three-game T20I and three-game ODI series against Pakistan which will be played entirely in the South Island and broadcast live and free on TVNZ and SENZ, in the first year of their full broadcasting rights.
Sophie Devine leads the side fresh off a successful WBBL campaign in which she was the second-highest run-scorer for the Perth Scorchers amassing 489 runs.
Melie Kerr will miss the opening T20I against Pakistan on Sunday as she participates in Saturday’s WBBL Final for the Brisbane Heat.
The remainder of the WHITE FERNS squad all toured South Africa in September/October and have been playing in the first four rounds of the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield, including Auckland HEARTS skipper Maddy Green, who sits third on the competition’s top-run scoring charts.
Canterbury Magicians’ batter Kate Anderson has retained her place in the squad following her international T20 debut against South Africa last month.
Wicketkeeper-batter Bernadine Bezuidenhout returns to the squad after falling ill on the recent tour of South Africa.
Nineteen year-olds Georgia Plimmer and Izzy Gaze have received an early look at the opposition at Bert Sutcliffe Oval this week as part of the New Zealand XI side featuring in the warm-ups.
Gaze, who was originally named in the ODI squad only, will also feature in the T20I squad for the opening game as cover for Kerr.
WHITE FERNS Squad v Pakistan
Sophie Devine (c)
Kate Anderson
Suzie Bates
Bernadine Bezuidenhout
Eden Carson (T20I only)
Izzy Gaze (ODI & 1st T20I)
Maddy Green
Fran Jonas
Melie Kerr
Jess Kerr
Molly Penfold
Georgia Plimmer
Hannah Rowe
Lea Tahuhu
WHITE FERNS head coach Ben Sawyer said the series was important for several reasons.
“The start of the international home summer is always an exciting time and I know our players are really motivated to play in front of our fans,” he said.
“We’ll be playing at ‘Suzie Bates Oval’ in game two and that will be a really special occasion and an awesome acknowledgement of Suzie’s milestone and career.
“Playing all our games on TVNZ this summer is an amazing opportunity to showcase the women’s game.”
Sawyer acknowledged Kerr’s exclusion from the first T20I was preempted.
“There was always a chance we may lose a player to the WBBL Grand Final but we’re comfortable with the depth of our squad and the opportunity it creates for other players to step up.”
Sawyer said the series was about more than just winning trophies.
“We’re looking to build on the back of some good recent form in bilateral series but more importantly, continue to develop combinations with an eye to the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh next year.
“From an ODI perspective, as well as continuing to develop our game plan, it’s extremely important that we look to get as many World Championship points as we can.”
Sawyer, who has been with the NZ XI squad this week for Pakistan’s warm-up matches, says the visitors will offer a good challenge.
“Pakistan are match-ready having just come off an away series against Bangladesh,” said Sawyer.
“They have a strong spin attack, and a dangerous top order that puts a high value on their wicket, making them difficult to bowl to.”
Sawyer leads a coaching group made up of regular batting coach Dean Brownlie and regular spin coach Craig Howard, with assistance from NZC High Performance coaches Bob Carter (T20I series) and Sara McGlashan (ODI series).
Brooke Halliday was not considered for selection due to a foot injury, and Hayley Jensen continues her recovery following knee surgery earlier in the year.
The squad will assemble in Dunedin on Thursday 30 November ahead of the first Life Direct T20I on Sunday at University of Otago Oval.
Following the first two T20Is in Dunedin, the tour moves to Sir John Davies Oval in Queenstown before finishing at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
All matches will be broadcast live and free-to-air on TVNZ and SENZ.
WHITE FERNS v Pakistan
Sunday 3 December – 1st Life Direct T20I, University of Otago Oval, Dunedin
Tuesday 5 December – 2nd Life Direct T20I, University of Otago Oval, Dunedin
Sat 9 December – 3rd Life Direct T20I, Sir John Davies Oval, Queenstown
Tue 12 December – 1st Dulux ODI, Sir John Davies Oval, Queenstown
Fri 15 December – 2nd Dulux ODI, Hagley Oval, Christchurch
Mon 18 December – 3rd Dulux ODI, Hagley Oval, Christchurch
