Kerr, Devine to miss opening T20I against England
White Ferns star Amelia Kerr will join captain Sophie Devine in being unavailable for the opening game of the T20I series against England in Dunedin tomorrow.
The 23-year-old all-rounder, fresh off claiming the Debbie Hockley Medal at last week’s New Zealand Cricket Awards, won’t return to the country in time due to travel complications from India.
Devine’s unavailability comes after her Royal Challengers Bangalore side booked their spot in this morning’s (NZ time) final of the WPL with a win over Kerr’s Mumbai Indians in the eliminator match on Saturday morning.
However, despite her side’s defeat, New Zealand Cricket yesterday announced that Kerr would now not be able to return in time to feature in the series opener. She will be available for the second match in Nelson on Friday, while it is expected Devine, who will depart India immediately after the WPL final, will be able to join her for game two at Saxton Oval.
Wellington Blaze batter Georgia Plimmer has been called in to the squad as a replacement, while a player from the New Zealand A squad will also be selected following yesterday’s second T20 against England A in Queenstown.
Twenty-year-old Plimmer, who has 12 ODIs and 21 T20Is to her name, featured in New Zealand A’s defeat to England A on Saturday and took part in the second T20yesterday, before assembling with the team in Dunedin afterwards.
White Ferns coach Ben Sawyer said Devine and Kerr’s late return to the squad provided an opportunity to build depth.
“It’s obviously disappointing not to have Melie or Sophie with us for the series opener,” he said.
“We’ve known that this could be the case for some time now, so we’ve made plans for all scenarios and the positive is that it gives other players an opportunity to test themselves against a strong England side.
Sawyer said Plimmer was a strong addition to the squad for the opening game against England.
“Georgia has been a regular part of our group for some time now and she’ll be involved in the ODIs − so we have full confidence she can come in and contribute in the opening T20.”
The absence of Devine and Kerr means that former skipper Suzie Bates will be back in charge for the series opener.