White Ferns coach Steve Jenkin has named the White Ferns squad to travel to Australia for the Rose Bowl series in October.
The team is:
Nicola Browne (State Northern Spirit)
Sarah Burke (State Canterbury Magicians)
Sophie Devine (State Wellington Blaze)
Anna Dodd (State Wellington Blaze)
Maria Fahey (State Canterbury Magicians)
Ros Kember (State Auckland Hearts)
Sara McGlashan (State Central Hinds)
Aimee Mason (State Central Hinds)
Louise Milliken (State Northern Spirit)
Rebecca Rolls (State Auckland Hearts)
Haidee Tiffen (Captain, State Canterbury Magicians)
Sarah Tsukigawa (State Otago Sparks)
Helen Watson (State Auckland Hearts)
The series will consist of one Twenty20 and five One-Day Internationals at Brisbane’s Allan Border Field.
The Selection Panel has called up two uncapped players – State Wellington Blaze all-rounder Sophie Devine and State Auckland Hearts bat Ros Kember.
Devine, 17, is a right-hand, middle-order bat and right-arm, medium-pace bowler who has made 20 State League appearances.
Kember, 21, played for New Zealand A in 2005/06 and has played 46 State League matches, scoring 919 runs at 22.14.
They replace Emily Drumm, who is unavailable due to work commitments in the UK, and Suzie Bates, who has sustained an ankle injury.
“Emily is in England on an OE and we support her in that. We believe she’s still got three, four or five years of cricket in her and we expect to see her back,” Jenkin said.
“We’ve now got to try other players and it means we’ll have more players prepared for the next World Cup.
“We’re very disappointed not to have Susie Bates through injury but we’re looking forward to having the two new players with us.
“It’s good to get them into the international game and to look at some players who could certainly be around by the time of the next World Cup.”
The series sees Jenkin take on the Southern Stars team he coached to the World Cup title in 2005.
“It’s going to be fun,” he added. “There’s a few players who I have coached for 13 or 14 years. They’re the world’s best team, so it’s going to be a big challenge, but it’ll be fun and we’ll do our best.”
The White Ferns enjoyed a series win over India in March 2006, but were defeated in Perth in the last Rose Bowl event.
The team leaves for Australia on Thursday 12 October.
