Rising stars backed to take on Australia as Devine eyes 100th cap

DUBAI - After impressing against England, newly capped White Ferns Brooke Halliday and Fran Jonas have each been selected in New Zealand’s upcoming white-ball campaigns against Australia.

Halliday has been picked in both the T20I and ODI squads against Australia, while 16-year-old Jonas has been named in the T20I group.

The White Ferns will play three T20Is against Australia, starting 28 March, before the trans-Tasman rivals do battle for the Rose Bowl across three ODIs, starting 4 April.

In a boost for the White Ferns, they will welcome back veteran seamer Lea Tahuhu for the ODI series after she missed the final two ODIs against England with a hamstring injury.

Halliday impressed in her debut series against England, scoring half-centuries in each of her first two innings and went on play all six white-ball matches. Jonas made her ODI debut against England and will be hoping to receive her first T20I cap this month.

“Brooke and Fran have come in and impressed everyone,” White Ferns head coach Bob Carter said.

“Brooke’s performances first-up against England showed she’s got what it takes and we’re excited to give her more opportunities at this level.

“Fran has fitted in extremely well and shown a real willingness to learn and grow as a cricketer - her youthful exuberance is infectious.”

The Kiwi side are looking forward to taking on the world’s No.1 team in both ODI and T20I cricket.

“We’re up for the challenge against Australia,” Carter said.

“To be the best, you have to beat the best and we know we’re going to have to be at the very top of our game.”

Captain Sophie Devine will become the third White Ferns player to have represented New Zealand in 100 T20Is this series but before that she will join the Black Caps squad to see how they prepare - something Devine is thoroughly looking forward to.

“It’s a great opportunity to see how the Black Caps inner sanctum go about their work,” she said.

“As a team they’ve managed a sustained period of success, so any little insights I can glean and take back to the White Ferns camp will be invaluable.

“I’ve also done short stints with the Silver Ferns and Black Ferns over the past few months with an eye to developing our own team environment.

"The chance to connect with other elite female athletes is important for our own learning and growth. Both the Silver Ferns (netball) and Black Ferns (rugby union) are world champions in their respective codes, so to experience those team environments has been great.

“To play 100 T20s will be a really special occasion and I’m excited to join the club alongside Suzie (Bates) and Amy (Satterthwaite),” she added.-ICC

 

WHITE FERNS T20 SQUAD

Sophie Devine (c), Maddy Green (Wellington), Brooke Halliday, Hayley Jensen, Fran Jonas, Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Frankie Mackay, Katey Martin (wk), Thamsyn Newton, Hannah Rowe, Amy Satterthwaite

 

ODI SQUAD

Sophie Devine (c), Lauren Down, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Hayley Jensen, Leigh Kasperek (games 2 and 3), Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Frankie Mackay, Rosemary Mair, Katey Martin (wk), Hannah Rowe (game 1), Amy Satterthwaite, Lea Tahuhu