A formidable New Zealand ‘A’ squad is gearing up for an exciting white-ball tour of England starting late June, in what promises to be a defining chapter in the country’s women’s cricket pathway. With 11 of the 15 squad members already having donned the national jersey—including five who earned their first caps in 2024—this series not only marks the return leg of a competitive bilateral ‘A’ series but also serves as a crucial platform for emerging stars to cement their credentials.
Leading the lineup are seasoned internationals Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, and Izzy Gaze, supported by experienced campaigners like Jess Watkin, Molly Penfold, and Anna Browning. The squad also welcomes promising newcomers yet to make their international debut: Anna Browning, Amie Hucker, Emma Black, and Nensi Patel, all eager to leave a mark in foreign conditions.
Among the batters, Plimmer, Watkin, and the rising Izzy Sharp headline the options, while the wicketkeeping unit looks strong with Gaze, Bella James, and Polly Inglis. All-round options are abundant with Emma McLeod and Flora Devonshire, and the pace attack is led by the experienced trio of Rowe, Penfold, and Illing.
Rowe tops the chart with 107 international appearances, followed by Plimmer (67 matches) and Gaze (55 matches). Watkin and Penfold also add valuable depth. Notably, six of the 11 internationals debuted in 2024 or 2025, highlighting a dynamic generational shift. Bella James is the most recent debutant, having earned her first cap in 2025.
Northern Districts’ captain Watkin is coming off a stellar domestic season, having led her side to the Super Smash elimination final. Inglis, McLeod, Sharp, Illing, and Devonshire made their international debuts during the home series against Sri Lanka in March, with Illing making headlines by dismissing Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu in back-to-back matches.
Following consistent domestic performances, Emma Black and Nensi Patel return to the ‘A’ squad after contributing to a series win over England A in March. The spin attack is bolstered by Watkin, Patel, Devonshire, and Otago Sparks’ Rising Star Anna Browning.
Ahead of the tour, New Zealand Cricket’s head of women’s high-performance Liz Green shared her excitement, “We’re really excited to be sending this group of talented players to England. They’ll get the chance to further their game by facing a strong opponent in different conditions whilst getting a taste for what international touring is like.”
Green also emphasized the broader long-term strategy, “Generating elevated playing opportunities is key for building experience and depth. It’s also an opportunity for us to assess high potential players at the next level and test their readiness for international cricket.”
Interestingly, no captain has been named yet. Canterbury men’s assistant coach Brendon Donkers will lead the coaching setup, joined by New Zealand assistant coach Craig McMillan and Peter Borren, coach of the Northern Brave women. The captain is expected to be named once the team settles in England.
This six-match tour—featuring three one-dayers followed by three T20s—will take place across Derby, Chelmsford, and Beckenham. The tour begins on June 23 with the opening one-dayer in Derby, followed by matches on June 26 and June 29. The T20s commence on July 4 in Chelmsford, before concluding with fixtures on July 6 and July 8 in Beckenham.
New Zealand ‘A’ Squad for England Tour:
Emma Black, Anna Browning, Flora Devonshire, Izzy Gaze, Amie Hucker, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis, Bella James, Emma McLeod, Nensi Patel, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Izzy Sharp, Jess Watkin
England A vs New Zealand A Fixtures:
June 23: 1st One-Dayer – County Ground, Derby
June 26: 2nd One-Dayer – County Ground, Derby
June 29: 3rd One-Dayer – County Ground, Chelmsford
July 4: 1st T20 – County Ground, Chelmsford
July 6: 2nd T20 – Kent County Ground, Beckenham
July 8: 3rd T20 – Kent County Ground, Beckenham
(Quotes sourced from NZC Media Release)
