WHITE FERNS and rising talent announced for North v South showdown

Stars of New Zealand’s women’s cricket scene will roll out for the three-match North v South One-Day series, starting in Lincoln this Friday.

Fresh off their T20I series against Australia, seven centrally contracted WHITE FERNS will feature across the two squads with Maddy Green, Jess Kerr, Fran Jonas and Hannah Rowe representing the North, and Polly Inglis, Hayley Jensen and Eden Carson named in the South.

Recent WHITE FERNS debutantes Emma McLeod, Flora Devonshire and Bree Illing will strengthen an already star-studded line up for the Northerners.

The South squad boast two recent WHITE FERNS of their own in Canterbury’s Izzy Sharp, and Otago’s Bella James – returning from injury after a month layoff.

Northern Brave captain Jess Watkin will make her debut in the North squad after a compelling season with the bat across the Dream11 Super Smash & Hallyburton Johnstone Shield competitions.

18-year-old rising star and recent New Zealand U19 representative, Eve Wolland, will also join the North side for the first time having already impressed in her young professional career.

Anna Browning and PJ Watkins of the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield winning Otago Sparks will make their debut in the South squad, joining eight of their Otago teammates in the squad of 14.

NZC High Performance Coach, Sara McGlashan, was buoyed by the depth of talent across both teams.

“The depth of talent across the country is really encouraging,” said McGlashan.

“There’s been strong competition for places and those selected have displayed the attributes we are looking for at the next level,”

“The squads feature range of experience from established WHITE FERNS to exciting New Zealand U19 talent so we’re looking forward to seeing how individuals step up.”

Re-established in the 2022-23 season, the North v South series aims to bridge the gap between Domestic and International cricket said NZC Head of Women’s High Performance Development, Liz Green.

“We have spent the last two years building an aspirational pathway between domestic and international cricket for our best female athletes, and the North v South series plays an important part in this,” said Green.

“These matches give players an opportunity to put their hand up for the New Zealand A squad which will be selected after the series, and to be part of central winter development programmes,”

“It’s great to see how the players have embraced this initiative, and we’re looking forward to what should be very competitive matches.”

Justine Dunce will join the North squad as assistant coach, having recently completed NZC’s Performance Coaching Course.

Dunce brings a wealth of experience, having coached Wellington pathway sides and the Central Sparks in England.

WHITE FERNS great, Emily Drumm, will add the wisdom of 100+ International matches to the assistant coaching role for the South.

Drumm captained the WHITE FERNS on 69 occasions and has coached domestically in both New Zealand and England.

All three matches will be played at Lincoln’s Bert Sutcliffe Oval, on Friday, Sunday, and Tuesday, respectively.

The matches will be live scored at nzc.nz and the NZC App and live streamed on NZC YouTube.

North Squad:

Maddy Green (c) – Auckland
Ocean Bartlett – Central Districts
Flora Devonshire – Central Districts
Kate Gaging – Central Districts
Amie Hucker – Auckland
Bree Illing – Auckland
Jess Kerr – Wellington
Emma McLeod – Central Districts
Nensi Patel – Northern Districts
Josie Penfold – Auckland
Hannah Rowe – Central Districts
Saachi Shahri – Auckland
Jess Watkin – Northern Districts
Eve Wolland – Northern Districts

Head Coach: Rhys Morgan

Assistant Coach: Justine Dunce

South Squad:

Hayley Jensen (c) – Otago
Sarah Asmussen – Canterbury
Missy Banks – Canterbury
Emma Black – Otago
Caitlin Blakely – Otago
Anna Browning – Otago*
Eden Carson – Otago
Olivia Gain – Otago
Polly Inglis – Otago
Bella James – Otago
Louisa Kotkamp – Otago*
Izzy Sharp – Canterbury
Jess Simmons – Canterbury
PJ Watkins – Otago

Head Coach: Donovan Grobbelaar

Assistant Coach: Emily Drumm

WHITE FERNS unavailable for selection:

Sophie Devine, Melie Kerr, Suzie Bates – NZC assigned rest
Brooke Halliday, Georgia Plimmer, Rosemary Mair, Lea Tahuhu – NZC assigned rest – injury management
Molly Penfold – injury

Fixtures: