Ferns fine tuning for World Cup

The White Ferns are still working on finding the right balance between youth and experience as they look ahead to this year’s T20 World Cup.

New Zealand began a five-game series against England in Dunedin yesterday without two of their biggest run-scorers.

Sophie Devine and Amelia Kerr weren’t available for game one of the series as they travelled back from India where they played in the Women’s Premier League.

Stand-in captain Suzie Bates said the team’s newer members were benefitting from more time on the international scene.

“Those younger players who got brought into international cricket at the Commonwealth Games (in 2022) are now further down the track in their international playing career,” Bates said.

“We’ve got an opportunity to blood some players and see where they’re at in international cricket.

“The girls have trained their butts off and while that doesn’t guarantee anything, we’ve done everything we can to make sure that we’re ready for a quality England side.”

Devine and all-rounder Kerr will be back for game two in Nelson on Friday.

In their absence Georgia Plimmer and Mikaela Greig have been called into the squad.

Bates believes Central Hinds batter Greig, 28, will fill a hole for New Zealand.

“She’s a hard-hitting middle order batter which we’re in search of so I know when she comes out to bat she’s going to play one way.

“She’s also a great slips fielder with some of the best hands in the country.”

Four of England’s best players will miss the first three T20s, with Nat Sciver-brunt, Danni Wyatt, Sophie Ecclestone and Alice Capsey having played in the WPL.