new zealand squad women's world cup 2025

Sophie Devine Set to Lead New Zealand in Her Last ODI Campaign

Meet Sharma

Modified - Sep 10, 2025, 08:01 AM

3 min

Add

As Preferred Source

New Zealand

The White Ferns have officially named their squad for the upcoming ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, set to take place across India and Sri Lanka, and it’s a mix of young faces and seasoned campaigners. The reigning T20 world champions, New Zealand head into the tournament with high hopes and a team in transition.

Six players will be making their debut at a 50-over World Cup, with four of them set to experience their first-ever senior ICC tournament. Among the newcomers, 22-year-old all-rounder Flora Devonshire stands out. She’s been rewarded with her first ODI call-up after a standout domestic season earlier this year.

Sophie Devine to Lead New Zealand Squad for ICC Women's World Cup 2025

Veteran Sophie Devine will once again lead the side, marking her fifth appearance at the tournament. It also signals the end of an era, as Devine has confirmed this will be her final ODI campaign for New Zealand. Fellow stalwart Suzie Bates is also set for her fifth World Cup. Both Devine and Bates are among the highest run-scorers in women's T20 cricket.

Experienced fast bowler Lea Tahuhu is up for her fourth World Cup. Maddy Green and Amelia Kerr are also part of the experienced core, both heading into their third appearances at cricket’s biggest stage. One of the most notable omissions from New Zealand’s World Cup squad was 21-year-old left-arm spinner Fran Jonas. She has already played 26 ODIs for the White Ferns. Jonas was widely expected to feature in the spin department. However, the selectors went in a different direction, opting for a different team balance.

Head coach Ben Sawyer acknowledged that dropping Jonas in favour of Flora Devonshire wasn’t an easy decision. He admitted the selection panel faced a tough call with several players competing for limited spots. He was full of praise for the squad named for the upcoming Women’s World Cup, congratulating all 15 players chosen to represent the White Ferns on the global stage.

“A massive congratulations to everyone selected,” Sawyer said. “I’m especially thrilled for the four players who’ll be making their World Cup debut. They’ve truly earned their spots, and I’m excited to see the kind of impact they can have throughout the tournament.”
“It’s always tough when you’ve got so many players knocking on the door for the same position,” he said. “Leaving out someone like Fran in favour of Flora was one of the hardest decisions we had to make. Fran’s a class act, and at just 21, she’s got plenty of cricket ahead of her.”
Reflecting on the team’s preparation, Sawyer added, “This is the most ready we’ve ever been going into a major tournament. Not having international fixtures since April has actually worked in our favour; it’s given us time to really focus on our physical skills. In conditions like India’s, that extra edge could make all the difference.”

New Zealand Squad Women's World Cup 2025

New Zealand will open their Women's World Cup 2025 campaign against Alyssa Healy’s Australia at the Holkar Stadium in Indore. It will be a big challenge for the White Ferns as they face one of the best cricket teams in the world. Here is the full New Zealand squad for Women's ODI World Cup 2025:

Sophie Devine (capt), Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Flora Devonshire, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis, Bella James, Jess Kerr, Amelia Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Georgia Plimmer, Lea Tahuhu

Frequently Asked Questions

When will the ICC ODI Women's World Cup begin?

The ICC ODI Women's World Cup will begin on September 30, 2025.

Conversation

(0 Comments)

Loading comments...

Trending