The White Ferns will acknowledge another incredible milestone for one of their own when they open the home summer of cricket next month by hosting Pakistan at Suzie Bates Oval.
The University of Otago Oval will be renamed to honour Bates in the second T20 on Tuesday December 5 against Pakistan with the all-rounder's family, friends, teammates and coaches all expected to attend.
Bates is being recognised in the match for recently becoming just the third woman in history to play 300 internationals while on a tour of South Africa.
White Ferns head coach Ben Sawyer said the series was important for several reasons.
“The start of the international home summer is always an exciting time and I know our players are really motivated to play in front of our fans,” he said.
“We’ll be playing at ‘Suzie Bates Oval’ in game two and that will be a really special occasion and an awesome acknowledgement of Suzie’s milestone and career.
“Playing all our games on TVNZ this summer is an amazing opportunity to showcase the women’s game.”
Sawyer has named a familiar squad for Pakistan, involves three T20s and three ODIs, which includes Sophie Devine as captain after a successful WBBL campaign in which she was the second-highest run-scorer for the Perth Scorchers amassing 489 runs.
The WBBL will interfere with Sawyer's selections slightly though with star all-rounder Melie Kerr to miss the opening T20 against Pakistan on Sunday as she will be playing the WBBL final on Saturday for the Brisbane Heat.
“There was always a chance we may lose a player to the WBBL Grand Final but we’re comfortable with the depth of our squad and the opportunity it creates for other players to step up.”
Izzy Gaze will cover Kerr in the first T20 before returning for the ODI series while Eden Carson will only feature in the T20s.
“We’re looking to build on the back of some good recent form in bilateral series but more importantly, continue to develop combinations with an eye to the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh next year," Sawyer added.
“From an ODI perspective, as well as continuing to develop our game plan, it’s extremely important that we look to get as many World Championship points as we can.”
Brooke Halliday was not considered for selection due to a foot injury, and Hayley Jensen continues her recovery following knee surgery earlier in the year.
White Ferns Squad v Pakistan
Sophie Devine (c), Kate Anderson, Suzie Bates, Bernadine Bezuidenhout, Eden Carson (T20I only), Izzy Gaze (ODI & 1st T20I), Maddy Green, Fran Jonas, Melie Kerr, Jess Kerr, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu
White Ferns v Pakistan
Sunday 3 December – 1st T20, University of Otago Oval, Dunedin
Tuesday 5 December – 2nd T20, Suzie Bates Oval, Dunedin
Sat 9 December – 3rd T20, Sir John Davies Oval, Queenstown
Tue 12 December – 1st ODI, Sir John Davies Oval, Queenstown
Fri 15 December – 2nd ODI, Hagley Oval, Christchurch
Mon 18 December – 3rd ODI, Hagley Oval, Christchurch
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