Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Olympics
Football
Netball
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Basketball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
Full Noise by SN
Important update on 1476AMWhite Ferns name squad for Bates' ODI swansong
Sport Nation • April 27th, 2026 9:51 am
Suzie Bates | Photo: Photosport
Four rising talents will get their first taste of an overseas tour after being named in the White Ferns ODI squad for next month’s three-match series in England and Wales.
Spin-bowling all-rounders Flora Devonshire and Nensi Patel, along with batters Emma McLeod and Izzy Sharp, headline the inclusions. All four impressed in home series wins over Zimbabwe and South Africa earlier this year.
Devonshire, who was part of New Zealand’s 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup squad but didn’t play due to injury, made her ODI debut against South Africa in March.
Captain Melie Kerr will lead the 15-player group, with experienced campaigners Suzie Bates, Maddy Green and Brooke Halliday also named.
Bates is set to bring the curtain down on her 181-match ODI career during the tour following her recent retirement announcement.
Scotty's moving tribute to retiring White Ferns great Suzie Bates | Scotty & Izzy
Head coach Ben Sawyer said the squad strikes a strong balance between youth and experience.
“We’ve got some exciting young talent in this squad with the likes of Emma, Izzy, Nensi, and Flora, alongside our core group of seasoned campaigners,” he said.
“Our younger players are finding their feet in international cricket but they’ve proved they have what it takes to succeed at this level."
New Zealand face a strong England side in their home conditions, with Sawyer confident the team’s recent home success will provide momentum heading into the series.
“England is a tough side to beat in their home conditions - so it’s a good chance to test ourselves.
“We’ve made some great gains as a group recently and are coming off the back of a successful home summer so hopefully that gives the team a lot of confidence heading into this series.”
White Ferns ODI squad vs England:
Melie Kerr (C), Suzie Bates, Flora Devonshire, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis, Jess Kerr, Emma McLeod, Rosemary Mair, Nensi Patel, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Izzy Sharp
