Cricket: The stars of the white ferns return to the Australian confrontation

Amelia Melie Kerr by New Zealand Batting
Photo: Photos

After a summer full of injuries and lack of availability, white ferns will be close to the total force for a three -game T20 series against Australia with the return of Melie Kerr and Sophie Devine.

The experienced Devine has returned after a Break of well -being That ruled out of the Super Smash, the Premier League female and the series at home against Sri Lanka.

After playing the last competitive Cricket in December, Devine said she was excited to return with white ferns.

“It is good to have had some time to restart and rename and I really want to return with the girls.”

The white ferns Captain Sophie Devine appeal during the second hate new zealand white ferns v Australia Rose Bowl Odi Series in Cess Basin Reserve, Wellington, December 21, 2024. © Copyright Image of Marty Melville / www.photosport.nz
Photo: Marty Melville

Just out of a successful Premier League campaign with the Mumbai Indians Kerr will meet with the national team after playing for white ferns in the grand final of the ICC World Cup in October, where he scored 43 of 38 balls and took three WICKETS for 24 races to guide New Zealand to a 32 racing victory.

Kerr lost the series Sri Lanka, which ended 1-1 on Tuesday after the decisive game was abandoned Due to the wet climate in Dunedin, participate in the WPL for the third time.

The Mumbai Indians won the WPL and Kerr scored 287 races and took 18 wickts in the 10 games he played.

Kerr’s return and Devine, together with that of the Senior Rhythm Bowling Player, Lea Tahuhu, after lesions in the hamstrings that have kept her out of the International Cricket since December, arrives at a good time for the white ferns team that has been achieved by injury At the end of summer.

The Otago Sparks batter, Bella James, also returns after a quédeps strain that ruled out it from the recent Odi and T20i series against Sri Lanka.

James, who has no limits in the T20 International Cricket, passed physical conditioning tests and will travel with the team to Auckland.

WICKETKEPER-BATTER IZZY GAZE, who was also discarded from the T20I series against Sri Lanka with a sprained hip flexor that he collected during the 3rd Odi, will not participate in the series, since she requires more rehabilitation before playing again.

Polly Ingis, who made his international debut in both white ball formats this month, will replace his gaze.

Young Emma McLeod, Izzy Sharp, Flora Devonshire and Bree Illing are omitted from the team that played against Sri Lanka to give way to Devine, Kerr, James and Tahuhu.

Suzie Bates will continue as an interim captain of the series after Devine resigned as T20 captain at the end of the T20 World Cup.

The series against Australia begins in Auckland on Friday and coach Ben Sawyer hoped to have some experience in the team for the final series of summer.

“We are excited to have Soph, Melie and read for this series.

“There are three key players who contribute a great experience and leadership to the group.”

Sawyer said Devine felt ready to return to Crickt.

“Soph has had some time out of the game and is now in a space where he is anxious to return to the park.

“Everyone knows the power it possesses and how active it is for any team, so we are really happy to recover it so we know it will be a competitive series.”

Alyssa Healy will miss the series against white ferns.
Photo: Photosport / Marty Melville

Visitors will be without Captain Alyssa Healy while continuing to rehabilitate a foot injury with Tahlia McGrath to lead the side.

The Wicktkeeper-Bater Nicole Faltum has been called for the first time as one that travels as a wicktkeeping cover for Beth Mooney. Mooney, who is the number one T20 batter in the world, is taking the gloves in the absence of Healy.

The rest of the Australia team is the same group of women who swept the T20 section of the ashes against England 3-0.

White ferns squad: Suzie Bates (C), Eden Carson, Sophie Devine, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Polly Ingis, Bella James, Fran Jonas, Jess Kerr, Melie Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Georgia Plimmer, Lea Tahuhu.

Australia squad: Tahlia McGrath (C), Ashleight Gardner, Darcie Brown, Nicole Faltum, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schut, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham.