New Zealand’s young talents, Isabella Gaze and Rosemary Mair, are set to rejoin the national women’s cricket team as they gear up for their first bilateral series against Sri Lanka. The tour, scheduled to commence on June 27 in Galle, will feature three ODIs followed by three T20Is in Colombo.
Gaze, the 19-year-old wicketkeeper, and Mair, the skilled 24-year-old fast bowler, missed out on New Zealand’s previous assignment at the Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa. Despite a commendable performance, winning two out of four matches, the team fell short of securing a spot in the semi-finals due to net run rate calculations.
The selectors have demonstrated their trust in the current squad, which includes a promising young spin group led by the impressive Amelia Kerr. Kerr’s recent success, claiming 15 wickets in the Women’s T20 Challenge and contributing to the Mumbai Indians’ title victory, has raised expectations. Fran Jonas and Eden Carson, both new to Sri Lankan conditions, complete the spin contingent. Notably, captain Sophie Devine and experienced batter Suzie Bates are the only members of the squad with prior experience playing in Sri Lanka.
Head coach Ben Sawyer expressed his confidence in the team’s ability to thrive in the challenging subcontinent conditions, stating, “This is the first time almost all of the squad will have experienced playing in Sri Lanka, so it’s a good opportunity for our players to develop their game in testing sub-continent conditions.” Sawyer acknowledged the potential challenges posed by unfamiliar conditions, heat, and humidity, emphasizing the team’s need to adapt swiftly both on and off the field. He highlighted the squad’s previous exposure to similar conditions during their visits to Antigua and South Africa, as well as the valuable experience gained by some players in subcontinent conditions in India.
However, New Zealand will be missing the contributions of Lauren Down (due to family reasons), Hayley Jensen (recovering from knee surgery), and Kate Anderson (sidelined with a finger injury), all of whom were part of the T20 World Cup campaign. The team’s last ODI was played in December of the previous year when they secured a 1-0 victory against Bangladesh at home, although two matches were affected by unfavorable weather conditions.
