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Canterbury batter Kate Anderson and Auckland all-rounder Bella Armstrong have been called-up by the White Ferns for the first time ahead of the upcoming tour of South Africa later this month.
The 27-year-old Anderson is rewarded for her sparkling form in the domestic Super Smash competition earlier this year in which she plundered a chart-topping 536 runs at an average of 59 as the Magicians claimed the title.
Anderson was duly named NZ Cricket’s Women’s Domestic Player of the Year and was in line for the tour of Sri Lanka in July before being ruled out with a finger injury.
New Zealand are set to play three ODIs and five T20s, starting on Sunday, September 24 in Potchefstroom, with coach Ben Sawyer naming two separate 15-player squads.
Auckland’s Armstrong is part of the T20 contingent, two years after receiving her development contract.
The 23-year-old wil replace wicketkeeper Izzy Gaze, who will return home following the completion of the ODIs.
Armstrong’s powerful hitting and sharp fielding during the Super Smash season caught the selectors’ eye, smashing a match-winning 71 runs off 34 balls against the Central Hinds.
RICH NORMAN/Photosport
Bella Armstrong’s powerful hitting and sharp fielding during the Super Smash caught the selectors’ eye.
“Bella’s an exciting young prospect who hits the ball hard and is an outstanding fielder, so she’s got all the attributes that we want from a White Fern,” Sawyer said.
“We’ve got five T20 matches on this tour which is more than we usually get, so it’s a good opportunity for us to look at players who could potentially be part of our future World Cup campaigns.”
The Australian said Anderson was being rewarded for an “oustanding domestic season” and was confident her “power and skills with the bat” would see her flourish on the international stage.
The White Ferns also welcome back pace bowler Jess Kerr after she missed the ill-fated tour of Sri Lanka through injury.
“She’s got a world-class bowling skill set and is especially effective with her in-swinger, which is proving more and more difficult in the women’s game,” Sawyer said.
“Jess bookends the innings, especially in a T20 match, as she swings it up front and then bowls an amazing leg cutter at the death.”
Otago allrounder Hayley Jensen wasn’t considered for selection as she continues her rehabilitation from knee surgery in May.
The remainder of the squad is made up of familiar faces who have all experienced South African playing conditions this year courtesy of the T20 Women’s World Cup and the Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup.
The White Ferns assemble for a training camp at Tauranga’s Bay Oval from September 10-14, before departing to South Africa on September 17.
Captain Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates, Fran Jonas, and Maddy Green will not be in attendance due to pre-arranged contracts with franchise leagues.
AT A GLANCE
White Ferns squad: Sophie Devine (capt), Kate Anderson, Bella Armstrong, Suzie Bates, Bernadine Bezuidenhout, Eden Carson, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Fran Jonas, Melie Kerr, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu
Fixtures (all NZ time):
Sunday, September 24: 1st ODI, Senwes Park, Potchefstroom, 9pm
Thursday, September 28: 2nd ODI, Pietermaritzburg Oval, Pietermaritzburg, 8.30pm
Sunday, October 1: 3rd ODI, Kingsmead, Durban, 8.30pm
Friday, October 6: 1st T20, Buffalo Park, East London, 5am
Sunday, October 8: 2nd T20, Buffalo Park, East London, 1am
Tuesday, October 10: 3rd T20, Buffalo Park, East London, 5am
Saturday, October 14: 4th T20, Willowmoore Park, Benoni, 1am
Sunday, October 15: 5th T20, Willowmoore Park, Benoni, 1am
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