New Zealand Women's Cricket Team 2026: Squad, Players, and ICC Women's T20 World Cup Title Defence
The White Ferns are back. The New Zealand women's cricket team heads into the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 as defending champions. They are looking to become only the second side in history to successfully retain the trophy. Under fresh leadership, with three legends heading into retirement and two first-timers stepping onto the world stage, this is the most emotionally charged New Zealand squad in recent memory.
New Zealand Women's Cricket Team Profile 2026
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | New Zealand Women's Cricket Team (White Ferns) |
| Governing Body | New Zealand Cricket (NZC) |
| Captain (T20Is) | Amelia Kerr |
| Head Coach | Ben Sawyer |
| ICC T20I Ranking | 4th (Rating: 253) |
| ICC ODI Ranking | 5th (Rating: 96) |
| T20 World Cup Titles | 1 (2024) |
| Tournament (2026) | ICC Women's T20 World Cup, England & Wales |
| Group (2026) | Group B |
ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026: New Zealand's Group Stage Fixtures
New Zealand are placed in Group B for the 2026 edition, which begins on June 12 in England and Wales.
| Opponent | Format | Tournament |
| England | Group B | ICC Women's T20 WC 2026 |
| Ireland | Group B | ICC Women's T20 WC 2026 |
| Scotland | Group B | ICC Women's T20 WC 2026 |
| Sri Lanka | Group B | ICC Women's T20 WC 2026 |
| West Indies | Group B | ICC Women's T20 WC 2026 |
Source: ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 official schedule
How New Zealand Won the T20 World Cup 2024
Before looking ahead, it is worth understanding what brought the White Ferns to this moment. At the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup held in the UAE, New Zealand pulled off one of the most celebrated upsets in women's cricket history. Melie Kerr was the architect of the team. Her record of 15 wickets in the tournament earned her the Player of the Tournament award and helped New Zealand beat India in the semi-final before defeating South Africa in the final. It was New Zealand's first-ever Women's T20 World Cup title. It changed everything about how the White Ferns are perceived globally.
New Zealand Women's Cricket Team - Complete T20I Career Stats Table
| Player | Role | T20I Matches | Batting SR | Bowling Economy | Bowling SR | Notes |
| Amelia Kerr (C) | All-Rounder | 96 | 119.42 | 6.06 | 24.3 | 1,912 runs; 104 wickets; Player of Tournament T20 WC 2024 |
| Suzie Bates | All-Rounder / Batter | 181 | 108.59 | — | — | 4,717 runs; 62 T20I wickets; NZ's all-time leading run-scorer |
| Sophie Devine | All-Rounder | 146 | ~115.00 | ~7.20 | — | 3,000+ runs; NZ's leading T20I wicket-taker (128 wkts) |
| Lea Tahuhu | Pace Bowler | 101 | — | 6.39 | 19.8 | 98 T20I wickets; Best: 4/6 |
| Jess Kerr | Pace Bowler | 49 | 109.6 | — | 26.2 | 36 T20I wickets; 189 runs |
| Rosemary Mair | Pace Bowler | 40+ | — | ~6.80 | ~25.0 | Took 7 wickets in SA ODI series (Mar 2026) |
| Maddy Green | Batter / WK | 60+ | ~115.00 | — | — | 239 runs vs SA ODIs 2026 (Player of Series) |
| Georgia Plimmer | Batter | 50 | 106.21 | — | — | 649 T20I runs; HS: 63; top scorer in T20 WC 2024 for NZ (150 runs in 6 innings) |
| Brooke Halliday | All-Rounder | 40+ | ~110.00 | — | — | 204 runs vs Zimbabwe ODIs 2026 (leading scorer) |
| Izzy Gaze | WK-Batter | 40 | 121.11 | — | — | 436 T20I runs; 189 runs vs Zimbabwe T20Is 2026 |
| Polly Inglis | WK-Batter | 7 | — | — | — | T20I debut: March 2025; first T20 WC |
| Flora Devonshire | Spin Bowler | 10–15 | — | ~6.50 | — | Left-arm spinner; ODI WC 2025 squad member |
| Bree Illing | Pace Bowler | 7 | — | 5.95 | — | 4 T20I wickets at economy 5.95; left-arm seamer |
| Nensi Patel | Off-Spin All-Rounder | 11 | 128.04 | 4.1 | — | 6 wkts at economy 3.56 (per ESPNcricinfo); 105 runs in 8 T20I innings; T20 WC debutant |
| Izzy Sharp | WK-Batter | 11 | ~115.00 | — | — | 105 T20I runs; power-hitting opener; T20 WC debutant |
New Zealand have named a 15-player squad that retains 10 members from the 2024 title-winning unit while also welcoming fresh faces.
New Zealand Women's T20 World Cup 2026 Squad
Amelia Kerr (Captain)
- Age: 25 (13 October 2000)
- Role: All-Rounder (Right-hand bat, Right-arm leg spin)
Amelia Kerr is the heartbeat of this New Zealand side. Born in Wellington on 13 October 2000, she has been a world-class performer since her teens. She holds the record for the highest individual score in women's ODI cricket (232 runs vs Ireland in 2018). As captain, she stepped up magnificently in the South Africa T20I series at home in early 2026, scoring 276 runs across five matches to be named Player of the Series. At just 25, she is already one of the most complete cricketers in the world, and leading New Zealand's title defence is a role she has embraced fully.
Suzie Bates
- Age: 38 (16 September 1987)
- Role: All-Rounder (Right-hand bat, Right-arm medium/off-spin)
Suzie Bates is a legend of the women's game. She has accumulated over 10,681 runs across all formats, making her New Zealand's highest run-scorer in women's cricket. The T20 World Cup 2026 will mark her 10th appearance at the tournament. She played in the inaugural edition in 2009 and has been a consistent performer ever since. Bates announced this will be her "one final mission," and her presence in the dressing room brings irreplaceable experience and cultural leadership.
Sophie Devine
- Age: 36 (September 1, 1989)
- Role: All-Rounder (Right-hand bat, Right-arm medium)
Sophie Devine ONZM is a two-sport New Zealand legend who also represented the Black Sticks in field hockey early in her career. Born on 1 September 1989 in Porirua, she led New Zealand to their maiden T20 World Cup title in 2024 before handing the captaincy to Amelia Kerr. The 2026 tournament is her 10th T20 World Cup appearance — a record she shares with Bates. As the current leading T20I wicket-taker for New Zealand (128 T20I wickets), she brings genuine all-round value in her farewell tournament.
Lea Tahuhu
- Age: 35 (September 23, 1990)
- Role: Bowler (Right-arm medium fast)
Lea Tahuhu has been New Zealand's most reliable pace threat for over a decade. She is of Ngāi Tahu descent and brings both skill and grit to the bowling attack. After announcing her retirement from ODI cricket in March 2026, the T20 World Cup will mark her final appearance in New Zealand colours. With 98 T20I wickets to her name, she is very close to the century mark.
Maddy Green
- Age: 33 (October 20, 1992)
- Role: Wicket-Keeper / Batter (Right-hand bat)
Maddy Green is one of New Zealand's most technically sound top-order batters. She was the standout performer during the South Africa home ODI series in early 2026, scoring 239 runs across three matches to claim player of the Series honours. While she primarily bats, her wicket-keeping adds a useful second dimension to the team's squad flexibility. In the 10-15 overs phase, few White Ferns players are as composed or as hard to dismiss.
Brooke Halliday
- Age: 30 (October 30, 1995)
- Role: All-Rounder (Left-hand bat, Right-arm medium)
Brooke Halliday was the leading run-scorer for New Zealand in the Zimbabwe ODI series (Feb–March 2026) with 204 runs. She is a hard-hitting left-hander who can accelerate in the middle overs and offers seam bowling as a genuine option, not just a back-up. With the retirement of senior batters looming, Halliday's ability to bat at multiple positions makes her one of the more valuable squad members going into the World Cup.
Georgia Plimmer
- Age: 22 (February 8, 2004)
- Role: Batter (Right-hand bat)
Born on 8 February 2004 in Wellington, Georgia, Plimmer made her ODI debut at just 18 years old. She is one of the most exciting young batters in New Zealand cricket, with a natural game that combines solid technique with the ability to play at pace. Plimmer attended Tawa College alongside Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, and Sophie Devine. At 22, she is likely to be a cornerstone of New Zealand batting for the next decade.
Jess Kerr
- Age: 28 (January 18, 1998)
- Role: Bowler (Right-arm medium)
Jess Kerr is the older sister of captain Amelia Kerr and forms one of cricket's most compelling sibling partnerships. She is a disciplined right-arm seam bowler who excels in powerplay and death overs. In the Zimbabwe T20I series in early 2026. She took 5 wickets and shared the leading wicket-taker spot with Nensi Patel. Her ability to extract movement on seamy English pitches makes her potentially one of New Zealand's most dangerous weapons at this World Cup.
Rosemary Mair
- Age: 27 (November 7, 1998)
- Role: Bowler (Right-arm medium)
This player is a right-arm seam bowler who proved her worth during the South Africa ODI series in 2026. She took 7 wickets across three matches to be New Zealand's leading wicket-taker in the series. She has the ability to take wickets in crucial moments, and her skill to bowl tight lines on English surfaces will be critical to New Zealand's success in the group stage and beyond.
Izzy Gaze
- Age: 22 (May 8, 2004)
- Role: Wicket-Keeper (Right-hand bat)
Born in Haarlem, Netherlands, Izzy Gaze has one of the most unique origin stories in New Zealand cricket. She lived in Hong Kong and Singapore before settling in Auckland. The player was New Zealand's top scorer with 189 runs in the Zimbabwe T20I series of early 2026. As a wicket-keeping option alongside Maddy Green and Polly Inglis, she adds excellent depth behind the stumps.
Polly Inglis
- Age: 29 (May 31, 1996)
- Role: Wicket-Keeper (Right-hand bat)
Polly Inglis made her international debut as recently as March 2025. The player has made herself a trusted squad member. She brings flexibility as a third wicket-keeping option, and this will be her first T20 World Cup. Her domestic performances for Otago Sparks have consistently impressed selectors, and coach Ben Sawyer has spoken highly of the depth this kind of player provides.
Flora Devonshire
- Age: 23 (February 13, 2003)
- Role: all-rounder (Slow left-arm orthodox / Left-arm medium)
Flora Devonshire has impressed in domestic cricket and offers New Zealand an additional spin option alongside the Kerr sisters. She was part of the 2025 ODI World Cup squad and transitions into the T20 setup with growing confidence. On the spin-friendly surfaces New Zealand could encounter in England, Devonshire's ability to flight the ball could prove surprisingly effective.
Bree Illing
- Age: 22 (September 29, 2003)
- Role: Bowler ( Left-arm medium-fast )
Bree Illing gives New Zealand's pace attack a different dimension. Her left-arm angle troubles right-handed batters in ways right-arm bowlers cannot. She is especially dangerous on English-style pitches. Like Devonshire, she was part of New Zealand's 2025 ODI World Cup squad and heads into her first T20 World Cup with valuable international experience.
Nensi Patel (T20 World Cup Debutant)
- Age: 24 (May 27, 2002)
- Role: All-Rounder (Off-spin bowler)
Nensi Patel is one of two players making their World Cup debut for New Zealand in 2026. A right-arm off-spinner and useful batter, she shared the leading wicket-taker spot (5 wickets) with Jess Kerr during the Zimbabwe T20I series. This helped her make her mark at the international level. Coach Ben Sawyer has spoken glowingly about her ability to adapt and take on pressure situations. At the World Cup, she brings an element of unpredictability that opposition batters will have to face.
Izzy Sharp (T20 World Cup Debutant)
- Age: 21 (December 1, 2004)
- Role: Top-order batter and Wicket-keeper
Izzy Sharp is the second player making her World Cup debut in 2026 and the third wicket-keeping option in the squad. A right-handed batter with strong domestic credentials, she represents the future of New Zealand women's cricket and joins the squad as the next generation begins to take shape around the core group.
New Zealand Women's Recent Performances (2026)
| Series | Opponent | Format | Result |
| Home Series (Feb–Mar 2026) | Zimbabwe | ODI | NZ Won 3–0 |
| Home Series (Feb–Mar 2026) | Zimbabwe | T20I | NZ Won 3–0 |
| Home Series (Mar–Apr 2026) | South Africa | ODI | NZ Won 2–1 |
| Home Series (Mar–Apr 2026) | South Africa | T20I | NZ Won 4–1 |
| Tour of England (May 2026) | England | ODI | Series Drawn 1–1 |
| Tour of England (May 2026) | England | T20I | England Won 2–1 |
Source: Wikipedia / ESPNcricinfo
The Three Retirements: End of an Era for the White Ferns
Perhaps the most defining storyline around this New Zealand side is the farewell tour of three icons. Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine, and Lea Tahuhu. These are the women who have collectively shaped two decades of New Zealand women's cricket. They will all retire from international cricket at the conclusion of the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup.
Head coach Ben Sawyer summed it up: "To have our three most senior players all finishing their careers at the same tournament is a rare and special occasion."
Bates and Devine both appeared at the very first Women's T20 World Cup in 2009 and have played in every edition since. That continuity in 10 tournaments with 17 years of service is something no statistics table can fully capture.
Can New Zealand Defend the Title?
The honest answer is: absolutely yes. The 2024 triumph was built on smart cricket, outstanding bowling performances, and a team identity that coach Sawyer has continued to develop. New Zealand won their home series against both Zimbabwe and South Africa in 2026, with Amelia Kerr in electric form.
The addition of Nensi Patel and Izzy Sharp brings fresh energy, and the depth in pace bowling with Tahuhu. Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Bree Illing, and Devonshire give New Zealand serious options across all surface conditions they might face in England.
Whether the three legends can deliver one final title together is what the whole cricket world is waiting to see.
FAQs
Who is the captain of the New Zealand women's cricket team in 2026?
Amelia Kerr is the captain of the New Zealand women's team in 2026, having taken over from Sophie Devine after the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Which players are retiring after the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026?
Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates, and Lea Tahuhu will all retire from international cricket at the end of the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup.
Has New Zealand ever won the Women's T20 World Cup?
Yes. They won their first and only Women's T20 World Cup title in 2024.
Which group is New Zealand in for the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup?
New Zealand are in Group B in the group stage.
Who are the two new debutants in New Zealand's T20 World Cup squad?
Nensi Patel and Izzy Sharp are both making their ICC tournament debuts in 2026.
Who is the head coach of the New Zealand women's cricket team?
Ben Sawyer is the head coach of the team.
Check out the New Zealand women's cricket team captain Amelia Kerr’s complete profile. Stay up to date with all the latest cricket team profiles with Skoringly.