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New Zealand Women will host Australia Women for a three-match T20I series followed by a three-game ODI series.
Defending World T20 Champions, Australia return to the international arena once again as they make a short trip to New Zealand for a three-match T20I and ODI series each. The first T20I will be played on March 28 at the Seddon Park in Hamilton.
New Zealand are coming into the series after a horrific outing against England at home. The White Ferns were whitewashed by England in the three-match T20I series and will be looking forward to the bounce back from their disappointment. As for Australia, their last T20I series was against the same opposition in September last year.
Australia had defeated New Zealand 2-1 in the three-match T20I series as Ashleigh Gardner was awarded the Player of the Series for her good performances with the bat. The White Ferns are dealing with all sorts of problems at the moment as they have lost five of their last six T20I matches.
Australia Women are brimming with confidence as they have a well-balanced team. New Zealand will be led by the experienced Sophie Devine, whereas the visitors will be led by Meg Lanning, who guided Australia to their fifth ICC T20 World Cup title last year.
Key Players
New Zealand captain Sophie Devine is one of the most important members of the hosts’ squad. Devine has represented her national team in 97 T20Is, having scored 2457 runs at an average of just under 30. Moreover, she has also been one of the key bowlers for her side, picking up 94 wickets at an average of 17.11. She did not perform well with the bat against Australia last time around, scoring just 63 runs in three innings, and will look to do better this time.
Amelia Kerr will lead the spin-bowling department for the visitors. Kerr has managed to pick up 38 wickets in many T20I matches so far, at an average of 21.34. Moreover, she has an impressive economy rate of 5.79. Kerr can also prove to be a handy batter, as she has demonstrated in the past. She has one century and two fifties to her name in ODI Cricket. She helped her side avoid a series whitewash against Australia last year, as she was adjudged the Player of the Match in the third T20I for picking up two wickets and scoring an unbeaten knock of 18 runs from just 10 balls.
Ellyse Perry has been the backbone of the Australian team, contributing with both bat and ball. Perry has played in 120 T20Is, amassing 3022 runs at an average of 52.10. With the ball, she has picked up 114 wickets at an impressive average of just under 20. She has played 32 T20Is against the White Ferns, scoring 258 runs at an average of 23.85. Her numbers against New Zealand are certainly not the best, and she will hope to do better this time.
Alyssa Healy is one of the most destructive batters in women’s cricket when she gets going. The wicket-keeper opens the innings for Australia and has played 115 T20Is so far. She has scored 2107 runs at an average of 25.08 and a strike rate of over 130. She could manage to score just 47 runs in her three innings against the White Ferns in September last year. Healy is coming at the back of a successful Big Bash League campaign where she scored 402 runs in her 12 innings at an average of 33.50.
Prediction
Australia Women are the favourites to win the first T20I and even win the three-match T20I series. The White Ferns are low on confidence after their dismal form in the past six months. However, they have a lot of quality in their side which can help them bounce back from the drubbing they received at the hands of England last month.
Australia have a formidable batting lineup with Healy, Perry and Lanning, all included in the squad to face New Zealand. Beth Mooney has been one of the standout batters in women’s cricket over the past year. She was the top scorer in the previous edition of the World T20, where she scored 259 runs and helped Australia lift the title. In the BBL season, she scored 551 runs in her 14 innings at an average of 55.10 and was also the highest run-getter of the tournament.
As for New Zealand, Sophie Devine and Amy Satterthwaite will have to step up against the formidable Aussies if they are to come out with a positive result. Amelia Kerr will have to continue with her fine performances if the hosts are to restrict the Australian batting.
Full schedule
| 1st T20I | March 28 |
| 2nd T20I | March 30 |
| 3rd T20I | April 1 |
| 1st ODI | April 4 |
| 2nd ODI | April 7 |
| 3rd ODI | April 10 |
