The Sports Desk
Uncapped allrounder Flora Devonshire has been named in New Zealand’s squad for the Women’s ODI World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, while the experienced Katey Martin was left out. The squad will be heavily relying upon the experience of Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates and Amelia Kerr, but the inclusion of new talent indicates a combination of youth and experience.
Devonshire is joined by fellow teenagers Polly Inglis, Bella James and Bree Illing, who between them have only eight ODIs and are poised to play their first World Cups. The 22-year-old left-arm spinner, Devonshire, who made her T20I debut against Sri Lanka earlier this year, travelled to England in June and July with New Zealand A. Her inclusion in the 15-player squad resulted in left-arm spinner Fran Jonas – with 26 ODIs under her belt – being a big-name absentee.
Head coach Ben Sawyer said it was a challenge to make the call but that the competition is fierce among the squad. Cutting like Fran only to choose Flora was a hard decision. We know Fran is a very good player and at just 21 years of age, I feel her best years are still to come.
Bree Illing, a left-arm seamer who took four ODI wickets on debut during the series against Sri Lanka, and Bella James, who made her ODI debut late last year against Australia, complete the pace line-up. Polly Inglis, who scored an unbeaten 34 from 21 balls on her second ODI appearance against Sri Lanka in March, will also provide wicketkeeping cover for first-choice keeper Izzy Gaze.
Sawyer gave a special shout out to the fresh faces: “I would also like to thank the four girls to play their first ever World Cup- they have been working hard and it will be interesting to see the impact that they can make. I am really happy with the balance in the team. I feel we’ve got the combination to try to do that to whatever we get and the opposition.”
“She puts batters under pressure early with her swing and has great ability (with the) new ball,” he said. She and Flora have both proven that they can bowl consistently on the stumps, and that will be very helpful in the conditions we are likely to face. Flora hits the ball with a positive mindset and has some good hand eye, which is useful down the order. Bella is a really good player who can play 360 degrees of the ground and can bat in multiple positions in the line-up.”
With the old hands and the young guns, the Kiwis will feel they have a team that can handle the challenge of the World Cup.
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