(Cricket News) Rosemary Mair last featured for the WHITE FERNS against England during the Commonwealth Games the previous August but missed out on last year’s tour to the West Indies and the visit from Bangladesh, as well as the T20 World Cup later this year. Izzy Gaze, who is a part of the team as a wicketkeeping cover to Bernadine Bezuidenhout, was in the WHITE FERNS squad that won the ODI and T20I series against West Indies but she missed out on the selection for the T20 World Cup in South Africa.

WHITE FERNS head coach Ben Sawyer said he is expecting to welcome both players Mair and Izzy back to the team for the tour to Sri Lanka. We’re exhilarated to have Mair and Izzy back,” said Sawyer. Mair and Izzy, the duo worked on their respective games in the recent time since their last international tour and we’re looking forward to seeing how Mair grasp the challenges along with Izzy that this tour will be bringing for them and the whole team.  

Mair and Izzy both bring their own distinctive strengths to the group and we hope that this will come up to be a successful tour for us. The tour will be the first time the WHITE FERNS have ever visited Sri Lanka for a bilateral series, and Mair and Izzy both have to adapt themselves as per the condition to make the expected performance possible.

Of the current squad, only Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates have encountered the playing conditions in Sri Lanka, during the WHITE FERNS’ 2012 T20 World Cup campaign under the leadership of current BLACKCAPS head coach Gary Stead. The rest of the touring squad has a close feel to it, with Devine leading the side, alongside other experienced internationals Amelie Kerr, Lea Tahuhu and Maddy Green.

Eden Carson and Fran Jonas continue alongside Kerr in a young spin group that will suit the dry sub-continent conditions. Sawyer said he was taking pleasure in the opportunity to work with the squad in new and testing conditions. “This is the first time almost all of the squad will have experienced playing in Sri Lanka so it’s a good opportunity for our players to develop their game in testing sub-continent conditions.

“Sri Lanka will produce challenges with the unfamiliar conditions out in the middle, but also with the heat and humidity, so we will need to be able to alter swiftly both on and off the field.  “The group has been really fortunate to have experienced some unique conditions with the recent trips to Antigua and South Africa.

“We adapted to similar heat and conditions in the West Indies, so that experience should suit well in Sri Lanka. “We also have a handful of players who have played in similar sub-continent conditions in India so that experience will be valuable for us to adapt.”

Auckland Hearts batter Lauren Down is unavailable for the tour due to family reasons, as is Otago Sparks allrounder Hayley Jensen who is recovering from knee surgery undertaken in April. Canterbury Magicians batter Kate Anderson who has been involved in winter training plans is also not on board due to a finger injury.

Sawyer will be held up by Dean Brownlie (batting coach), Craig Howard (spin bowling coach) and Chennai Super Kings academy coach Sriram Krishnamurthy as tour coach who will join up with the group when they arrive in Sri Lanka. The touring squad departs for Sri Lanka next Thursday 22 June ahead of the first ODI against Sri Lanka in Galle on June 27.

Also read: https://spogonews.com/jiocinema-resumes-with-indias-tour-of-west-indies/