Contracted WHITE FERN HANNAH ROWE is off to the ICC Women' World Cup after all, but it's unfortunately at the expense of her injured CENTRAL HINDS teammate FLORA DEVONSHIRE.

Young left-arm spinning allrounder Devonshire had been in the frame to make her ODI at the pinnacle event that's underway in India and Sri Lanka - but a nasty laceration to her left hand instead sees her heading back to Aotearoa New Zealand.

The ICC's Event Technical committee approved right-arm allrounder Rowe as the replacement player in the WHITE FERNS' squad where 29-year-old Rowe will link up once again with the other contracted WHITE FERN from Central, ROSEMARY MAIR.

Devonshire was ruled out after sustaining an injury to her dominant hand during a team training session at the Holkar Stadium in Indore, with an expected timeline of two to three weeks required for the injury to heal.

The Hinds' most-capped player, Rowe brings 60 ODI caps of international experience, and will now be attending her third one-day ICC Women's World Cup. 

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WHITE FERNS head coach Ben Sawyer said it was disappointing to lose Devonshire.

“We’re all feeling for Flora,” he said. “She worked hard to earn her spot in this squad, and it’s a real shame her tournament is ending early.”

Leaving out Rowe for the original squad selection was a tough call, with her spot taken by rising swing star Bree Illing, but all that experience means she'll hit the ground running, if picked to start.

So far, the New Zealand team has had just one official match at the tournament, a loss to defending champion Australia depite a Sophie Devine century.

“Hannah’s obviously not a like-for-like replacement for Flora, but she offers an all-round skillset, and has experience in subcontinental conditions,” Sawyer added.

Rowe is set to assemble with the squad in Indore tomorrow (7 October) before travelling with the group to Guwahati, while Devonshire has already departed for home.

The WHITE FERNS play South Africa in their second ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup match tonight, 6 October NZT.

Watch live in New Zealand on SKY Sport NZ, with live-scoring available on nzc.nz and the NZC App.

Article added: Monday 6 October 2025