Hinds left-hander FLORA DEVONSHIRE is back from the injury that saw her scratched from the recent, ground-breaking but one-sided series against Zimbabwe.

After her initial selection, Devonshire had to sit out that entire New Zealand tour after breaking her finger in training, but now the T20 World Cup prospect gets a second chance to impress as South Africa lands on our shores for an extensive late summer tour, including five Life Direct T20 Internationals.

At this stage, only the T20i squad has been named, and Devonshire is joined in it by WHITE FERNS frontline seamer ROSEMARY MAIR.

Rosemary Mair | PHOTOSPORT

Mair has been picked for the entire T20i series, while Devonshire will be available for the last three of the five T20 matches only.

The tour kicks off on Sunday in Mount Maunganui, before heading to Hamilton, Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

The series is being played as doubleheader game days with the BLACKCAPS who meanwhile play South Africa's men in the KFC T20I series – a tantalising rematch of the World Cup semi-final won by the BLACKCAPS last week.

Sophie Devine is set to make her return to the national side for the first time since the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in India last October as the WHITE FERNS continue their preparation to defend their T20 World Cup title ahead of the next edition in England later this year. 

PHOTOSPORT

WHITE FERNS Head Coach Ben Sawyer said he had felt for Devonshire when she was ruled out of the recent Zimbabwe series just months after being ruled out of that ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in India with a different hand injury (split webbing).

Flora Devonshire | PHOTOSPORT

“Flora has had a couple of back-to-back injuries that have kept her out of the squad for the last little while, which is never nice as a player.

“It’s really pleasing to be able to have her back in the group, fit and firing for when we need her.”

Sawyer said having some players come in and out of the tour is all in the name of ensuring good wider squad preparation for the upcoming World Cup.

“As we can only take 13 at a time in our squads, we’re having a few moving parts to try and get more of our players involved in what is an important series ahead of the World Cup.”

2026 T20i Series v South Africa

Melie Kerr (c) – Wellington Blaze

Suzie Bates – Sparks

Sophie Devine – Wellington Blaze

Flora Devonshire** – Central Hinds

Izzy Gaze – Auckland Hearts

Maddy Green – Auckland Hearts

Brooke Halliday – Auckland Hearts

Bree Illing* – Auckland Hearts

Polly Inglis* – Sparks

Jess Kerr – Wellington Blaze

Rosemary Mair - Central Hinds

Nensi Patel – Northern Brave

Georgia Plimmer – Wellington Blaze

Izzy Sharp – Canterbury Magicians

Lea Tahuhu** – Canterbury Magicians

*first two T20’s only

**last three T20’s only

Article added: Tuesday 10 March 2026