Four Spotlight Reporting Wellington Blaze players have been selected in the WHITE FERNS squad for the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup in New Zealand next month.
Sophie Devine, Melie Kerr, Jess Kerr and Maddy Green have all been included in the 15-strong squad to take part in New Zealand's first women's home World Cup since 2000 when the WHITE FERNS lifted the trophy.
WHITE FERNS head coach, Bob Carter, said it was a difficult squad to pick and those selected should be immensely proud.
“I would like to congratulate the 15 players selected to represent the WHITE FERNS at the World Cup here in New Zealand,” Carter said.
“It doesn’t get much better than competing at a World Cup in your home country and I know the entire team and support staff are really excited by the prospect.
“We feel we have a balanced squad providing multiple options with bat and ball to cover the range of conditions we’re likely to face around the country.
“Naturally, there were some tough decisions and no doubt some disappointed players but as a selection group we felt this mix would give us the best chance.
“There’s a strong mix of youth and experience in this squad with several players having multiple World Cups under their belt.
“We also have a younger group coming through, six of which are yet to experience World Cup cricket - and it’s naturally a very exciting time for those players.”
Of the 15-player squad, the most notable ommission is Blaze allrounder Leigh Kasperek.
Kasperek is the leading one-day international wicket-taker over the past five years for New Zealand and is currently the highest ranked WHITE FERNS bowler on the ICC ODI bowling rankings.
Kasperek played in 26 of the WHITE FERNS' 35 ODIs since the last World Cup, in England in 2017, taking 42 wickets at an average of 21.26 and a strike rate of 29.3, with an economy rate of 4.34
Kasperek was at the top of charts last year as well, taking 14 wickets at an average of 14.78, including a career-best 6-46 against Australia, after being dropped for the first series of the year, against England. She was recalled when injuries and other factors kept other spin options out of later series in 2021.
The WHITE FERNS will play one T20 and a five-match ODI series against India at John Davies Oval in Queenstown, before getting their World Cup campaign underway against the West Indies at Bay Oval on March 4.
Article added: Thursday 03 February 2022
