Mcfadyen set to make White Ferns debut
Wicketkeeper-batter Jess Mcfadyen is set to make her debut for the White Ferns after yesterday being named in the squad to play a series of one-day and Twenty20 internationals at home against Bangladesh.
The 31-year-old from the Wellington Blaze is the only new player in the squad, replacing Izzy Gaze from the unit which won both the one-day and T20 series recently in the West Indies.
Sophie Devine will captain the side and will be joined by familiar faces Suzie Bates, Melie Kerr, Jess Kerr, Maddy Green, Lea Tahuhu and Hayley Jensen, who join the squad following spells in the Women’s Big Bash in Australia.
New Zealand will take on the tourists in three T20s and three ODIS, with the opening T20 on Friday at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
Mcfadyen was awarded a White Ferns contract last season but didn’t play a game for New Zealand on last year’s tour of England nor at this year’s Commonwealth Games, and didn’t make the squad for the tour to the West Indies.
White Ferns coach Ben Sawyer said Mcfadyen ‘‘brings great energy’’.
‘‘When we worked together at the Commonwealth Games I was really impressed with what she brought to the team environment – and she has good experience with the bat, especially in that middle order.
‘‘The objective is always to go out and win games of cricket but we also want to make sure we prepare thoroughly for the World Cup next year. We used the recent series in the West Indies to try different combinations with bat and ball and we also want to do that with the wicketkeepers; we want to see what Jess can bring to the team.’’