Izzy Sharp during the third T20 cricket match against Sri Lanka at Hagley Oval, Christchurch. Photo / Photosport
With the upcoming T20 World Cup in England, it seems appropriate the tournament will see a changing of the guard for the White Ferns.
New Zealand cricket royalty and self-proclaimed “grandmas”, Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine and Lea Tahuhu, retire at the end of the tournament, which starts on June 12, and ends at the home of cricket, Lords, on July 5.
It’s less than two years since the trio was part of the T20 World Cup winning side in the UAE.
And such is the frequent nature of pinnacle events in international cricket, Bates and Devine have appeared in all nine previous T20 World Cups, since the first edition in England back in 2009.
“To have our three most senior players all finishing their careers at the same tournament is a rare and special occasion,” says head coach Ben Sawyer, who has been in charge since 2022.
“All three have had distinguished careers in their own right, and given so much to this team and the game in general.
“There’ll be a time at the end of the tournament to further acknowledge and celebrate the trio and I know at present they’re very focused on performing well in their final mission with the team.”
At the other end of their international careers are off-spinning allrounder Nensi Patel and batter Izzy Sharp, who have earned their maiden World Cup call-ups.
Left-arm seamer Bree Illing, wicketkeeper-batter Polly Inglis and left-arm allrounder Flora Devonshire will play their first World Cups in the T20 format, having been part of the ODI World Cup squad in India last year.
Sharp, aged 21, made her international debut in the T20 series against Sri Lanka last year, and played all the matches against Zimbabwe (three) and South Africa (five) in the format in February and March this year, batting at No 7.
“Credit to [batting coach] Dean Brownlee and [assistant coach] Craig McMillan,” Sawyer says.
“A couple of years ago during Super Smash, they saw some qualities in her, including the power that she possesses.
“They’ve worked really hard with her. Craig has spent a lot of time with her at Lincoln, and I think that power is showing.
“I think she hits the ball as hard as anybody in our team, so that’s the bit that we’re really excited about.
“Izzy isn’t afraid to go out there and play really aggressively, but she does it in a really powerful way as well, so she’s been a great addition to the team.”
Sharp had largely kept her selection in the World Cup squad a secret after being told the good news by Sawyer during the recent South Africa series, but there were a few people she just had to tell.
“I told my partner Pero and then my Mum and Dad and my siblings. It feels like I’ve known for so long, it’s been a secret that you have to keep, but it’s nice now for the news to be finally be out,” she says.
“It’s only sunk in over the last couple of days, and you suddenly realise that you’re actually leaving and going over to play in the World Cup.
“It’s pretty cool, but definitely a good time to reflect on what you’ve done to get here and journey so far.”
Sharp grew up in Timaru and like so many of her peers, found there were no local all-girls cricket teams at a young age, so she started playing with her two older brothers in the backyard.
“I decided that I actually really liked cricket. We drove to Christchurch to play, and I was quite a keen sportsperson, so I juggled it with my swimming and hockey at the time.
“Mum and Dad would drive me up to Christchurch twice a week from Timaru to play with the girls and then when I was in Year 12 at Craighead Diocesan School, I finally decided that cricket was probably the sport I wanted to play when I was older, so I quit swimming and put all my focus into that, and now I’m here.”
After making her senior debut for Canterbury in 2022, Sharp was fortunate to be surrounded by experienced teammates such as Amy Satterthwaite and Frankie Mackay, and is grateful for the guidance and support they and others have provided.
“I was coached by Amy and Frankie, so then being able to play with them for the Canterbury Magicians was pretty cool.
“They’d lead you, and you’d look up to them and then you’ve also got the likes of Lea Tahuhu, and Kate Anderson. They’re all a big part of my journey.”
Sharp is quick to acknowledge how welcome she’s felt in the White Ferns environment, and also the impact that the senior players who are finishing up have had on her and the game in general.
“Growing up, I always looked up to those three playing, especially Suzie and Sophie being batters like me.
“Watching them while growing up, and then now to be able to play with them in their final World Cup is pretty awesome and I think it’s just a cool experience to be able to take as much away from them as I can.”
For Sawyer, developing Sharp and others to be ready to take on the challenge of international cricket is something he and New Zealand Cricket have been planning for some time.
“It’s been something that we’ve been looking at since the last T20 World Cup.
“A lot’s been spoken about some of the younger players that have been selected, and we looked at those girls against Sri Lanka at home in early 2025, with a mind to building depth and looking at new players for this T20 World Cup, and how we think we’re going to have to play to win it.”
Summer English conditions will certainly be different to what the side experienced in the UAE 18 months ago. Grounds will be smaller, scores will be higher and wickets truer.
It means that having a batting line-up capable of hitting boundaries and scoring at a high strike rate is essential to getting wins on the board and qualifying for the later stages of the tournament.
Before the World Cup starts, however, the White Ferns will play England in three ODIs and three T20s, starting on May 10.
It’s the perfect opportunity to acclimatise to English conditions and hopefully take performances and results forward to the defence of their T20 crown. Sawyer knows it’s a tough start to the tour, but one that the entire squad is ready for.
“We’re playing one of the favourites in their own backyard so that’ll be tough but it’ll be great preparation for the World Cup.”
White Ferns squad
Melie Kerr (C) – Wellington Blaze
Suzie Bates – Sparks
Sophie Devine – Wellington Blaze
Flora Devonshire – Central Hinds
Izzy Gaze – Auckland Hearts
Maddy Green – Auckland Hearts
Brooke Halliday – Auckland Hearts
Bree Illing – Auckland Hearts
Polly Inglis – Sparks
Jess Kerr – Wellington Blaze
Rosemary Mair – Central Hinds
Nensi Patel – Northern Districts
Georgia Plimmer – Wellington Blaze
Izzy Sharp – Canterbury Magicians
Lea Tahuhu – Canterbury Magicians
World Cup draw
Match 1 v West Indies – Sunday, June 14, 5.30am – Southampton
Match 2 v Sri Lanka – Wednesday, June 17, 1.30am – Southampton
Match 3 v Ireland – Saturday, June 20, 5.30am – Southampton
Match 4 v Scotland – Tuesday, June 23, 9.30pm – Bristol
Match 5 v England – Sunday, June 28, 5.30am – The Oval
This story was originally published at Newsroom.co.nz and is republished with permission.