Rowe, Plimmer, and Gaze among picks for NZ A’s England tour

A number of internationals, including Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, and Izzy Gaze, headline New Zealand A’s roster for their white-ball tour to England, which begins in late June.

Eleven of the 15 players in the team have played for New Zealand, and they will play three ODIs and three T20Is in the return leg of the bilateral ‘A’ series, which was reinstated to the New Zealand women’s pathway last year.

The team includes all-rounders Emma McLeod and Flora Devonshire, bowlers Rowe, Molly Penfold, and Bree Illing, and wicketkeeper-batters Gaze, Bella James, and Polly Inglis, as well as Plimmer, Jess Watkin, and Izzy Sharp, all of whom have represented New Zealand. Medium pacers Amie Hucker, Emma Black, and Nensi Patel, as well as batting all-rounder Anna Browning, are yet to make their international debuts.

Rowe (107 internationals), Plimmer (67), and Gaze (55) are the team’s most experienced players, but Watkin (15) and Penfold (24) have also played for the senior squad for some time. Except for James, who earned his first New Zealand cap earlier this year, the other six internationals will make their debuts in 2024 and 2025.

There is no captain for the team yet. The captain will be chosen “once the squad has assembled in England” by Brendon Donkers, the Canterbury men’s assistant coach, who will supervise the team’s coaching staff with Craig McMillan and Peter Borren.

“We’re really excited to be sending this group of talented players to England,” New Zealand Cricket’s head of women’s high-performance Liz Green said in a statement. “They’ll be able to improve their game by facing a tough opponent in a variety of situations, as well as get a taste of international touring.

“Creating increased playing opportunities is critical for developing experience and depth. It’s also an opportunity for us to evaluate high-potential players at the next level and determine their suitability for international cricket.

England A vs New Zealand A schedule