The 15-member New Zealand team for the ICC Women’s WC 2025 has been revealed. The tournament will take place in India and Sri Lanka. Four players, Flora Devonshire, Polly Inglis, Bella James, and Bree Illing, will play in their first ODI WC, according to an announcement made in Auckland by former WC-winning captain Emily Drumm. Interestingly, skipper Sophie Devine, who will compete in her fifth WC, will stop playing ODIs following the competition.
In the 50-over match, the White Ferns, the reigning T20 World Champions, hope to duplicate their short-format success. New Zealand has made some roster changes since their last WC appearance in 2022, bringing in fresh players through domestic tournaments and New Zealand A tours.
New Zealand will leave for the UAE for a pre-tournament camp.
In the meanwhile, one of the main topics of discussion is Devonshire’s admission. The 22-year-old left-arm spinner was selected ahead of Fran Jonas after he made an impression in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield with 18 wickets and more than 250 runs. Although it was difficult to leave out Jonas, Sawyer said Devonshire’s attacking mentality and all-around skill made her a perfect choice for Indian conditions.
Bree Illing, a left-arm seamer who took four wickets in her debut series against Sri Lanka and went on to have impressive performances on the England “A” tour, will join her. Bella James, a batter, also ended as the second-highest run scorer in England’s New Zealand “A” league. Polly Inglis is anticipated to support Izzy Gaze in wicketkeeping and provide depth to the batting.
Sturdy players Suzie Bates and Lea Tahuhu, together with Maddy Green and Amelia Kerr, who are starting their third campaigns, will join Captain Sophie Devine. By mentoring the younger players, Bates hopes to prolong her career.
On September 13, the team will go for a pre-tournament camp in the United Arab Emirates, where they will play warm-up matches against England before travelling to India. On October 1, they will play their World Cup opener in Indore against bitter rivals Australia.
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