CRICKET POLL

New Zealand have named pacer Rosemary Mair and offspinner Leigh Kasperk in their 15-member squad for the upcoming Women's T20 World Cup 2024 in the UAE.

Mair sustained a back injury during the T20I leg of England's tour of New Zealand in March earlier this year, ruling her out of the subsequent ODIs and then the return tour in June-July. Off-spinner Kasperek, on the other hand, marked her New Zealand comeback after a year in the T20I leg of that trip to England, and will bolster the team's spin reserves at the World Cup which is set to be her fourth.

Sophie Devine, who will be relinquishing T20I captaincy after the tournament, and former captain Suzie Bates, meanwhile, are set for their ninth straight T20 World Cup since having featured in the very first edition of the competition all the way back in 2009 in England. The otherwise tried and tested squad features only one member - wicketkeeper-batter Izzy Gaze - without any prior T20 World Cup experience.

"The T20 World Cup's been an important vehicle in the development and growth of the women's game and it's a real privilege to think I've played in it since it started," said Devine. "I'm really looking forward to another opportunity to compete against world-class teams that are all vying to take home the trophy," she added.

"I'm really pleased with this squad, I think these are our best 15 players to adapt to what will likely be varied conditions," head coach Ben Sawyer said.

"Soph and Suze have a huge amount of tournament experience from World Cups to franchise leagues, so we'll certainly be leaning on that knowledge in what's going to be a pretty intense competition.

"Rosemary's had an unfortunate run with injury over the past few months and she's worked hard to be fit for this tournament. She's proved herself as one of our key pace options and we're excited she's returning."

New Zealand squad: Sophie Devine (C), Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Izzy Gaze (wk), Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Fran Jonas, Leigh Kasperek, Jess Kerr, Melie Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu

The same team will also feature in a three-match T20I series against Australia between September 19 and 24, before the two depart for the World Cup.

New Zealand feature in Group A at the World Cup, alongside defending champions Australia, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. They will play their two warm-up matches against South Africa and England, and launch their World Cup campaign against India on October 4.