CENTRAL HINDS Rosemary Mair and Flora Devonshire have been selected in New Zealand's squad for the next ICC T20i World Cup that starts in June in the United Kingdom.

The WHITE FERNS are the reigning world champions in this format with Mair having been one of the stars of that ground-breaking campaign two years ago.

Now young Hinds teammate, left-arm spinner and batter Devonshire gets her first call-up for a T20i World Cup with Northern Brave off-spinner Nensi Patel, Sparks keeper-batter Polly Inglis, Auckland Hearts left-arm swing bowler Bree Illing and young Canterbury batter Izzy Sharp also on the plane for the first time in this format.

Melie Kerr captains a 15-strong squad that, including Mair, features 10 players from New Zealand’s victorious 2024 campaign - including Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates for whom it will be their 10th and final T20 World Cup.

Devine and pace bowler Lea Tahuhu have both confirmed the World Cup will be their last campaign with the WHITE FERNS, bringing the curtain down on their international careers after having retired from ODI cricket during the home season.

Bates meanwhile announced her retirement from international cricket on Friday will be at the end of the tournament.

Twenty-three-year-old Devonshire was also selected for New Zealand’s one-day World Cup squad last year, but had to return home with a hand injury before she got a chance to play.

The same T20 World Cup squad named today will head into the three-match T20I series against England in late May (May 21, 24 and 26 NZT), following on from the back of the ODI Series.

The one-day squad for the tour was named earlier this week and features Central Hinds batter Emma McLeod alongside Mair and Devonshire.

“Congratulations to all players selected,” said WHITE FERNS head coach Ben Sawyer.

“Any time you’re chosen to represent your country on the world stage it’s an honour, but World Cups hold an elevated level of importance and I’m certain everyone can’t wait to get on the plane."

Sawyer said the squad was 'in a good place' following seven wins from their last eight T20Is which included four of the teams’ highest ever totals, hitting 190 and above.

“I believe we’ve landed on a well-balanced squad that features a mix of experience and exciting young talent," he said.

“We’ve worked really hard over the past 12 months to develop our batting depth in particular which we’ve seen bear fruit in our recent home series against South Africa and Zimbabwe.

“With the ball, our pace bowling attack is competing hard for spots in the XI which is a great place to be from a depth perspective.”

The WHITE FERNS are in Group 2 alongside England, Ireland, Scotland, Sri Lanka and the West Indies.

New Zealand will also play two warm-up matches in Loughborough on 6 and 9 June, against Bangladesh and South Africa respectively, ahead of their first Group 2 match against the Windies in Hampshire on 14 June. 

Matches will be broadcast live on Sky Sport NZ, with live-scoring at www.nzc.nz.

WHITE FERNS SQUAD

Melie Kerr - captain, Wellington Blaze

Suzie Bates - Sparks

Sophie Devine - 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 - wicketkeeper, 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

WHITE FERNS Group Matches (NZT)

v West Indies

Sunday 14 June 5.30am

Southampton

v Sri Lanka

Wednesday 17 June 1.30am

Southampton

v Ireland

Saturday 20 June 5.30am

Southampton

v Scotland

Tuesday 23 June 9.30pm

Bristol

v England

Sunday 28 June 5.30am

The Oval

Full schedule here

T20 International Bilateral Series v England

Article added: Wednesday 29 April 2026