Exploring The Possible White Ferns World Cup Squad
Later this summer, Aotearoa will host the Women's World Cup. The White Ferns have a borderline horrible ODI record to call upon, although their ODI woes are balanced out by plenty of Super Smash and Hallyburton Johnstone Shield cricket in the same conditions as the World Cup. In breaking down what Aotearoa's World Cup squad may look like, further good vibes are established as the best wahine cricketers are dominating the domestic circuit.
Let's start with the players I consider mandatory selections and all nine of these players should be viewed as 1st 11 cricketers regardless of conditions. Suzie Bates is 1st in Super Smash runs and 6th in HBJ Shield runs, averaging over 40 in both competitions. Bates' Otago homie Katey Martin is also in lovely form as she's 3rd in Super Smash runs and 4th in HBJ Shield runs, while being a certainty for the wicket-keeper slot. No need for two wicket-keepers in the squad of 15 - cross that bridge if it's reached and that spot is better used for batting/bowling depth.
Hayley Jensen's the other Otago Sparks player in this bucket. Jensen was fantastic with bat and ball prior to a break in Australia and returned to action over the weekend with 3 wickets vs Auckland. Jensen has a batting strike-rate of 130 in Super Smash and 102 in HBJ Shield, which looks tremendous alongside the best wahine sluggers right now Lea Tahuhu and Jess Kerr. Jensen showed nice out-swing in her return and this seam-trio provides lower order hitting that the Ferns tend to lack.
Amy Satterthwaite is 5th in HBJ Shield runs and 9th in Super Smash runs which is solid. Devine has just returned to Aotearoa and she's a certain selection, which feels funky as Devine will likely bat in the middle order - just ahead of the Tahuhu, J-Kerr, Jensen trio. Lots of attacking impetus here with the bat and Devine is a nifty ODI seam option, giving the Ferns four seamers and two world-class spinners in Amelia Kerr and Leigh Kasperek.
I covered the growth of the Kerr sisters here and Amelia's batting opens up all sorts of team balance options. Nine players sit in this certain selection bucket, all of whom are scoring runs in domestic cricket and all but Bates and Martin are getting meaningful overs. Here's how I'd chuck them in a team list: Bates, ***, Satterthwaite, A-Kerr, Devine, Martin,***, Lea Tahuhu, Hayley Jensen, Jess Kerr, Leigh Kasperek.
Nine players named, two 1st 11 spots up for grabs from the group of six players who will round out the squad of 15. Maddy Green has done enough mahi in the HBJ Shield to counter her lack of Super Smash runs, plus Green is always selected regardless of her form so this is a realistic move. Frances Mackay and Kate Ebrahim haven't enjoyed such faith in their White Ferns selections and opportunities, however these two veterans are the perfect squad members.
Mackay is 4th in Super Smash runs and 10th in wickets, without much HBJ Shield production. Ebrahim is 1st in HBJ Shield runs and ranked 5th for Super Smash bowlers. Both provide options with bat and ball, both are winners in the domestic scene which when combined with highly competitive vibes and experience; they provide something younger players simply don't have.
Most importantly, Mackay and Ebrahim have international calibre skills but a team-first attitude. I can't stress how useful such players are in a World Cup squad. In the 1st 11 listed above, Mackay or Ebrahim could open the batting with the other taking up a lower order slot and they fit seamlessly around the 1st 11 troopers.
Rosemary Mair, Brooke Halliday and Lauren Down have all commanded selection in the World Cup squad. Mair has risen to 8th for Super Smash wickets and hasn't played a HBJ Shield game yet, showcasing her bowling skills in a struggling Central Hinds outfit. Halliday is the leader in a struggling Northern Brave outfit and this hasn't resulted in Super Smash runs (57 @ 9.50avg) but Halliday has an HBJ Shield century.
Down is 3rd in HBJ Shield runs and 6th in Super Smash runs which is perfect timing for one of Aotearoa's best top-order bats in the domestic circuit. While I prefer the veterans, Down could open alongside Bates with Halliday capable of batting anywhere and Mair is an extra seamer.
Holly Huddleston, Claudia Green, Hannah Rowe, Molly Penfold, Fran Jonas and Thamsyn Newton were all in the mix as recent White Ferns.
Huddleston has scored runs for Auckland, although she sits behind Mair in the seaming ranks and this could be extended out to sitting behind Central's Claudia Green. Rowe has also scored runs as a senior figure for Central Hinds, while taking 2w @ 61avg in HBJ Shield and 5w @ 43avg in Super Smash. That's an untimely dip in form and while Penfold clearly looks like a promising talent, her 1w @ 129 in 17 HBJ Shield overs and 4w @ 33.25avg in 20ov of Super Smash isn't good enough to leap over the other seamers.
Newton toured England with the White Ferns and barely bowls for Wellington, while batting down the order and getting limited chances to whack boundaries. Hard to see Newton getting a selection nod here. Young spinner Fran Jonas has immense upside but with Kasperek and A-Kerr backed up by Satterthwaite and Mackay, there's no need to throw a young spinner into a World Cup.
One young spinner note: Aotearoa is flush with young spin talent. Jonas is good, the Otago duo of Eden Carson's and Sophie Oldershaw are fantastic. Xara Jetly is good for Wellington, Nensi Patel is a promising cricketer with Northern and bowls nice offies. Jess Watkin bowls good offies and smacks sixes. Carson's my favourite spinner and she is among Aotearoa's best fielders, so keep her name tucked away for future White Ferns cricket.
Mando Selections
Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine, Amy Satterthwaite, Lea Tahuhu, Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Katey Martin, Leigh Kasperek, Hayley Jensen - 9.
Build It Out With
Maddy Green, Frances Mackay, Kate Ebrahim, Rosemary Mair, Brooke Halliday, Lauren Down - 15.
Surplus
Holly Huddleston, Claudia Green, Hannah Rowe, Molly Penfold, Thamsyn Newton.
All of which feels quite conservative with no selection bolters or head-scratchers. That's wahine cricket in Aotearoa right now and World Cup success will be highly dependent on the best players leading the role players, with everyone comfy enough to play their best cricket. The team is capable even though coach Bob Carter's reign is kinda funny and hopefully Aotearoa's best wahine cricketers can drag this team out of the ODI darkness.
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