ICC Women's World Cup: Preview of all the eight teams participating in the tournament

New Zealand

The New Zealand all-rounder is returning to the side after an injury layoff

It was way back in the year 2000, on their home soil, New Zealand team recorded their first ever victory in the ICC Women’s World Cup by defeating Australia in the summit clash by four runs. 17 years later, Suzie Bates and her team will aim to script a similar story, albeit on foreign land.

The tournament will mark the return of their hard hitting all rounder, Sophie Devine after a long injury layoff. One of the mainstays in the lineup for the White Ferns, Devine dislocated her thumb while playing in the Women’s Big Bash League. The injury ruled her out of action for most of the year but she’ll be making a comeback into the side for the all-important World Cup.

While the batting looks formidable with the experience of Bates and Devine in the top order, the bowling department includes a surprise package in a 16-year-old Amelia Kerr. The leg-spinner is the youngest player to make her debut for the New Zealand outfit and will be one of the players to watch out for in the tournament.

Squad: Suzie Bates (Captain), Erin Bermingham, Sophie Devine, Maddie Green, Holly Huddleston, Leigh Kasperek, Amelia Kerr, Katey Martin, Thamsyn Newton, Katie Perkins, Anna Peterson, Rachel Priest, Hannah Rowe, Amy Satterthwaite and Lea Tahuhu.