White Ferns In Australia: T20 Squad
Good Batesy
The White Ferns will swing back into action in just over a week's time when they start their three-game T20 series against Australia, in Australia. They'll then return to Aotearoa for a return-leg of sorts as they will then host Australia for three ODI games and we'll be graced with a whole lot of trans-Tasman cricket.
Both squads have already been named and with the T20 series quickly approaching, we'll concern ourselves with that first. As you would expect, the T20 squad features our world-class all-rounders Suzie Bates and Amy Satterthwaite, while Melbourne Renegades duo Rachel Priest and Lea Tahuhu also hold down spots.
Sophie Devine is out of action for the time being with an injury and spinner Morna Nielsen is enduring a bit of a slide at the moment as she didn't make the cut, on the back of a fairly average WBBL02 campaign. The Ferns aren't exactly short of spinners though and competition for places here is immense as Leigh Kasperek (offies) will operate as the top spinner, with Erin Bermingham (leggies) also named in the squad.
Following the White Ferns has been highly enjoyable because we not only have some of the world's best female cricketers, we've got a pool of cricketers that will ensure coach Haidee Tiffin is able to roll out a strong squad more often than not, in any format. Along with the spinning options and the ability of Bates/Satterthwaite to chime in with overs, the pace attack led by Tahuhu is also exciting. Tahuhu was solid in WBBL02 without being amazing and she'll be joined by youngster Thamsyn Newton and Holly Huddleston.
There are a range of options available to Tiffin in how she selects her best team for the opening T20 and then any tinkering to that team that needs to be done in the remaining two games. My strongest team would look like this...
Suzie Bates, Rachel Priest (wk), Anna Peterson, Amy Satterthwaite, Katie Perkins, Katey Martin, Erin Bermingham, Thamsyn Newton, Holly Huddleston, Lea Tahuhu, Leigh Kasperek.