CENTRAL HINDS Rosemary Mair, Flora Devonshire and Emma McLeod have all been named in the WHITE FERNS squad that will host Zimbabwe this month in a ground-breaking maiden Series in New Zealand.

Three T20Is and three ODIs will be played, at Hamilton’s Seddon Park and Dunedin’s University of Otago Oval respectively with Northern Brave duo Nensi Patel and Kayley Knight also picked in the squad, both in the frame for potential international debuts.

Molly Penfold will replace Knight in the ODI squad, making up a four-player pace unit consisting of left-arm Bree Illing, and right-armers Jess Kerr and Mair, while McLeod will also come in for the ODI series only after an outstanding Hallyburton Johnstone Shield campaign in which she produced her maiden century in Palmerston North.

The squad will be captained by Melie Kerr in her first assignment as the WHITE FERNS full-time captain, meanwhile former Central Hind and Taranaki rep KATE EBRAHIM has been named as interim Head Coach of the Zimbabwe Women squad for the tour.

Ebrahim's appointment creates a husband and wife coaching team for Zimbabwe in international Cricket with husband Dion Ebrahim mentoring the men's side.

Suzie Bates (quadricep) and Eden Carson (elbow) were not considered for selection due to their respective injuries, and Lea Tahuhu was not considered for the T20I squad due to physical preparation planning for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in June.

Sophie Devine, who is on a casual contract with NZC, was not available for this series.

The squad assembles in Hamilton on Sunday, ahead of their first ODI on Tuesday, 24 February at Seddon Park. 

The matches are broadcast free to air on TVNZ+, with livescoring at nzc.nz

UPDATE:

Flora Devonshire was subsequently replaced in the squad after suffering a broken little finger ahead of the Series

ODI and T20i Series v Zimbabwe

Melie Kerr - captain, Wellington Blaze

Flora Devonshire - Central Hinds

Izzy Gaze - wicketkeeper, Auckland Hearts

Maddy Green - Auckland Hearts

Brooke Halliday - Auckland Hearts

Bree Illing - Auckland Hearts

Polly Inglis - Otago Sparks (T20I only)

Jess Kerr - Wellington Blaze

Kayley Knight* - Northern Brave (T20I only)

Emma McLeod - Central Hinds (ODI only)

Rosemary Mair - Central Hinds

Nensi Patel* - Northern Brave

Molly Penfold - Auckland Hearts (ODI only)

Georgia Plimmer - Wellington Blaze

Izzy Sharp** - Canterbury Magicians

*Potential international debut

** Potential ODI debut

Article added: Friday 20 February 2026