Having undergone a transition since the previous edition of the tournament which they hosted back in 2022, New Zealand have included six players in their squad who will feature at their first 50-over Cricket World Cup and four that will appear at their first senior ICC event.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Of them, 22-year-old all-rounder Flora Devonshire has received her maiden ODI call-up after impressing at domestic level during the most recent home summer, as per ICC.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Sophie Devine will once again captain New Zealand at the tournament in what will be her fifth World Cup appearance and the last time she features in ODI cricket for her country.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Fellow veteran Suzie Bates also plays at her fifth 50-over World Cup, pacer Lea Tahuhu is attending her fourth, while Maddy Green and Melie Kerr are attending their third.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
New Zealand coach Ben Sawyer praised all the players that won selection in the squad.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cA huge congratulations to all 15 players named to represent New Zealand at this World Cup,\u201d said Sawyer.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI\u2019d like to especially acknowledge the four players set for their first World Cup - they\u2019ve all earned this opportunity and I\u2019m excited to see what impact they can have on the tournament.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI\u2019m really pleased with the balance of the squad. I think we\u2019ve got the right mix to tackle what we\u2019ll come up against in terms of conditions and opposition.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Sawyer said it wasn\u2019t an easy squad to select, with regulars Fran Jonas, Lauren Down, Molly Penfold and Hannah Rowe among the players to miss selection.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt\u2019s never easy when you have multiple players pushing for the same spot and that of course made for some tough selection calls,\" he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cHaving to leave out the likes of Fran in favour of Flora was a tough decision. We know Fran is a quality player and at 21 we believe she still has her best years in front of her.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Sawyer said the team were well prepared for the tournament and is confident they can match their heroics from the ICC Women's T20 World Cup last year when they won the title.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI can honestly say that in the four world events I\u2019ve been part of with this group, we are the best prepared we\u2019ve ever been,\" Sawyer said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cHaving no international cricket in our calendar since April has given us the ability to work really hard on our physical skills in particular, which is something that could be the difference in India.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI can honestly say that in the four world events I\u2019ve been part of with this group, we are the best prepared we\u2019ve ever been,\" Sawyer said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
New Zealand Squad: Sophie Devine (c), Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Flora Devonshire, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis, Bella James, Melie Kerr, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Georgia Plimmer, Lea Tahuhu<\/p>\r\n\r\n