The veteran White Ferns player was in Dunedin for the naming of the New Zealand T20 World Cup team.
The announcement was made at Otago Girls’, where she went to school during the 2000s.
‘‘It is funny because I literally finished Otago Girls’ in 2005 and played for the White Ferns in 2006,’’ Bates said.
‘‘This school and the White Ferns have been such a huge part of my life, so it was full circle.
‘‘I think we had the First XI with Paul King as coach and we had a basketball team with Leonard King as coach.
‘‘I’ve always talked about my time here at Otago Girls’. The coaching was a huge part of why I was able to play school sport, and we had really good teams.’’
Last week, Bates announced she was retiring from international cricket following the T20 World Cup.
It was a huge decision and everyone wanted to talk to her about it.
‘‘Oh yeah, last week was a lot,’’ she said.
‘‘But I think when you know you’re finishing, you aren’t going to get these moments very much again.’’
She was relieved to get her retirement announcement out of the way so she could focus on what she does best — helping her side win cricket games.
Bates has mostly opened the batting during her career, but she will bat further down the order and bowl some offspin at the World Cup.
‘‘It’s difficult when you’ve opened the batting for so long and that’s what you know. It’s challenging doing a different role in 20-over cricket, and the lower you bat, the harder it gets.
‘‘But to be able to contribute with the ball, I’ve always loved bowling, so I do get fizzed for that. And just to be going to my 15th World Cup, just to be there, I’m just really grateful for another opportunity.’’
The White Ferns have a long batting lineup. With captain Melie Kerr and veteran all-rounder Sophie Devine batting the top four, the defending champions can carry an extra batter or bowler in the playing XI. That flexibility should serve them well in the United Kingdom when the tournament gets under way in mid-June.
There are no surprises in the team, really.
Offspinning all-rounder Nensi Patel gets a spot and batter Izzy Sharp will also make her World Cup debut.
Otago wicketkeeper Polly Inglis has made the side as well.
The White Ferns have a favourable draw.
They are in group B alongside England, the West Indies, Sri Lanka, Ireland and Scotland.
Group A looks stronger on paper. Australia, India and South Africa will have expectations to go deep into the tournament, but one of those sides will be eliminated.
The format is nice and simple. There are two pools of six. The top two-ranked teams after pool play progress to the semifinals.
The two semifinal winners will contest the final in London on July 6 (New Zealand time).
‘‘I know it’s sports, not fairy-tale endings, but you’ve got to visualise and think about those moments in case you’re in it,’’ Bates said.
White Ferns
T20 World Cup squad
Melie Kerr (captain), Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine, Flora Devonshire, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Nensi Patel, Georgia Plimmer, Izzy Sharp, Lea Tahuhu
