White Ferns squad
Georgia Plimmer, Suzie Bates, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine (captain), Isabella Gaze, Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Lea Tahuhu, Hannah Rowe, Rosemary Mair, Eden Carson, Fran Jonas, Leigh Kasperek, Jess Kerr, Molly Penfold.
Draw
Oct 5: v India
Oct 9: v Australia
Oct 12: v Sri Lanka
Oct 15: v Pakistan
Format
The ninth edition was supposed to be played in Bangladesh but was shifted to the UAE due to political unrest.
There are 10 teams divided into two groups of five. New Zealand are in group A with Australia, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Bangladesh, England, Scotland, South Africa and the West Indies comprise group B.
The top two teams from each pool will progress to the semifinals. The final is scheduled for October 20.
You can probably go ahead and pencil in Australia and England.
Australian batsman Alyssa Healy
Players to watch
Veteran Sri Lankan left-hander and captain Chamari Athapaththu hits the ball as hard as anyone in the women’s game and combines her power with a hunger for runs. She is closing in on 700 runs this year and is averaging close to 50. She had stint for the Northern Brave last season.
Our own Melie Kerr is a rare talent. She bats in the top order and the wrist spinner will play a key role with the ball as well. The 23-year-old is in the top five leading run-scorers and wicket-takers for New Zealand in the format.
Australian Alyssa Healy is arguably the most destructive batter in the women’s game. She has been operating with a strike rate of close to 140 this season. Her opening partner, Beth Mooney, is equally dangerous.
The oil
White Ferns and Otago great Suzie Bates is the all time leading scorer at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup with 1066 runs at an average of 32.30 in 36 games.
The 37-year-old is not the dominant force she once was.
But if the White Ferns are going to feature at the business end of the tournament, they will need their former captain to turn back the clock.
They will also need current captain, Sophie Devine, to fire. Those two have carried the team for so long now.
