Otago spinner Eden Carson and Auckland wicket-keeper Izzy Gaze are the two new players named in the New Zealand women's T20 cricket squad for the Commonwealth Games.
Sophie Devine and Eden Carson Photo: PHOTOSPORT
They join Wellington batter Georgia Plimmer and Wellington wicket-keeper Jess McFadyen as the uncapped players in the 15-strong squad.
Auckland left-arm spinner Fran Jonas and Plimmer will embark on their first tours with the New Zealand cricket team, while McFadyen will return to the UK after first touring there last winter.
They will be complemented by the vast experience of captain Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates, Melie Kerr and Maddy Green, and a raft of players who are well-known to the squad, from Brooke Halliday with 27 international caps to Hayley Jensen with 70.
The touring party comprises two wicket-keepers in McFadyen and Gaze; three spinners in Kerr, Carson, and Jonas, a pace bowling quartet of Hannah Rowe, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair and Hayley Jensen (with back-up from Devine) and a batting spine of Bates, Devine, Green, Down and Halliday.
The squad is missing some experience after Amy Satterthwaite, Lea Tahuhu, Katey Martin and Frankie Mackay either retired or weren't offered contracts following the World Cup.
It's the first time women's cricket has featured at the Commonwealth Games, following a men's 50-over version played at Kuala Lumpur in 1998, when New Zealand won a bronze medal.
"We can't wait to get on the plane," Devine said.
"To be the first women's cricket team to represent the country at a global event like the Commonwealth Games is truly an honour.
"It's been great to get the group back together this week at Bay Oval and our new squad members are finding their feet and fitting in well."
All the Commonwealth Games cricket games will be played at Edgbaston Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Batter Suzie Bates is the one player with previous multi-games experience, having represented New Zealand in basketball at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
Bates said the experience was special, and unusual in terms of being in a team within a team.
"Being part of a wider New Zealand team makes you even more proud to wear the Silver Fern," said Bates.
"You feel like you're part of something big. To be in the same team as New Zealand's top athletes from all the different sports is something really special."
Bates also noted the unique traditions that were part of any Commonwealth Games campaign.
"There's the opening ceremony, the flag bearer selection, and the communal dining halls - these all combine to make the Games experience something really memorable and I'm encouraging everyone to soak it all up when we get over there."
The naming takes the total number of athletes currently selected to the New Zealand Team for Birmingham 2022 to 95.
New Zealand Women's Cricket Team: Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Sophie Devine, Lauren Down, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Hayley Jensen, Fran Jonas, Jess Kerr, Melie Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Jess McFadyen, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe.
