Veteran top-order batter Suzie Bates and offspinner Eden Carson are established players in the lineup and their inclusion in the 15-strong squad for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, which gets under way later this month, was a given.
The selection of top-order batter Bella James and wicketkeeper-batter Polly Inglis was less straightforward.
They join Central Hinds all-rounder Flora Devonshire and Auckland Hearts seamer Bree Illing in earning a maiden World Cup call-up.
The quartet of new faces all made their international debuts in the past summer and recently embarked on the New Zealand A tour of England in June and July.
James has two ODIs under her belt and Inglis and Illing have clocked three ODIs.
Devonshire is yet to play for White Ferns in the format but has made two T20 international appearances.
James made her ODI debut in December following some strong domestic performances for the Sparks.
The 26-year-old right-hander finished as New Zealand A’s second-highest run-scorer in the 50-over series against England.
Otago team-mate Inglis will add to New Zealand’s batting ranks and offer support for regular wicketkeeper Izzy Gaze.
Inglis was among the top run-scorers during the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield and swatted 86 in the final to help the Sparks secure back-to-back titles.
Illing burst on to the international scene with four wickets in her debut series against Sri Lanka in March.
The 21-year-old left-armer continued her form against England A, claiming the most wickets in the 50-over series and the team’s best figures of four for 64.
Devonshire cemented her one-day credentials with ball and bat in the past domestic summer.
The 21-year-old took 18 wickets at 17.5 during the HBJ Shield, including a career-best five for 22, while amassing 266 runs.
Devonshire’s inclusion means there is no room for Fran Jonas, while Lauren Down, Molly Penfold and Hannah Rowe also miss out on a spot.
Veteran all-rounder Sophie Devine will captain the side in her final campaign for the White Ferns.
Earlier this year, she announced she would be retiring from the format at the conclusion of the tournament.
Devine (152 ODIs) and Bates (171 ODIs) will be competing at their fifth one-day World Cup, while Lea Tahuhu (97 ODIs) is attending her fourth.
White Ferns head coach Ben Sawyer said it was a tough squad to pick. But he was looking forward to seeing what they were capable of.
“I can honestly say that in the four world events I’ve been part of with this group, we are the best prepared we’ve ever been,’’ he said.
“Having no international cricket in our calendar since April has given us the ability to work really hard on our physical skills, in particular, which is something that could be the difference in India.”
The tournament is being jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka
The squad leave for the UAE on September 13 for a pre-tournament camp, which includes two unofficial warm-up matches against England. — Allied Media
White Ferns
World Cup squad
Sophie Devine (captain), Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Flora Devonshire, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis, Bella James, Jess Kerr, Melie Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Georgia Plimmer, Lea Tahuhu
