Central Hinds allrounder MIKAELA GREIG has been called into the WHITE FERNS squad for the first time, joining HANNAH ROWE and ROSEMARY MAIR in the New Zealand squad for tomorrow's opening Life Direct T20 International in Dunedin against England.

Greig joins Wellington's Georgia Plimmer as the replacement players for Sophie Devine and Melie Kerr - both unavailable for Game One due to their commitments in India's WPL, with the star pair set to now arrive home in time for the second match of the Series.

Greig has featured for New Zealand A in both the recent T20 matches against England A in Queenstown, and will make her full international debut if selected in the playing XI tomorrow.

Mikaela Greig action for NZ A against England A | PHOTOSPORT

WHITE FERNS head coach Ben Sawyer said Greig was worthy of her call-up.

“Mikaela has been impressive for the Central Hinds all summer, and deserves an opportunity to join the group for the first time.

“She’s shown this season that she possesses power and hitting ability which are important qualities in T20 cricket, and we believe she has the ability to contribute if selected in the XI tomorrow.”

PHOTOSPORT

Greig was striking at 107.76 in this summer's Dream11 Super Smash, in which the Central Hinds made the Grand Finals for the first time in years. She also had one of the highest batting averages nationally in this season's one-day Hallyburton Johnstone Shield, averaging 52 from six innings with two half centuries.

Plimmer and Greig will remain in Dunedin after tomorrow’s match and re-assemble with the New Zealand A one-day squad on Thursday, ahead of the first 50 over match against England A at the same ground, the University of Otago Oval on Saturday.

Greig's selection brings the total number of Hinds selected for the WHITE FERNS v ENGLAND Series to four, with HOLLIE ARMITAGE - one of the top three run-scorers nationally in this summer's Dream11 Super Smash - looking to make her full international debut for England.

 

2024 ODI and T20 International Series v England

Sophie Devine - captain, Wellington Blaze T20Is 2-5 only

ROSEMARY MAIR - Central Hinds

HANNAH ROWE - Central Hinds

MIKAELA GREIG - Central Hinds (uncapped) T20I 1 only

Suzie Bates - Otago Sparks captain for T20i 1

Bernadine Bezuidenhout - wicketkeeper, Northern Brave

Eden Carson - Otago Sparks, T20Is 1-3 only

Izzy Gaze - wicketkeeper, Auckland Hearts

Maddy Green - Auckland Hearts

Brooke Halliday - Auckland Hearts

Fran Jonas - Auckland Hearts

Leigh Kasperek - Wellington Blaze, T20Is 4-5 only

Melie Kerr - Wellington Blaze T20Is 2-5 only

Jess Kerr - Wellington Blaze

Georgia Plimmer - Wellington Blaze, T20I 1 + ODIs only

Lea Tahuhu - Canterbury Magicians

WHITE FERNS v England Series

1^st T20I – Tuesday 19 March, 1PM – University of Otago Oval, Dunedin

2^nd T20I – Friday 22 March, 1PM – Saxton Oval, Nelson

3^rd T20I – Sunday 24 March, 1PM – Saxton Oval, Nelson

4^th T20I – Wednesday 27 March, 1PM – Cello Basin Reserve, Wellington

5^th T20I – Friday 29 March, 1PM – Cello Basin Reserve, Wellington

1^st ODI – Monday 1 April, 11AM – Cello Basin Reserve, Wellington

2^nd ODI – Thursday 4 April, 11AM - Seddon Park, Hamilton

3^rd ODI – Sunday 7 April, 11AM - Seddon Park, Hamilton

Article added: Monday 18 March 2024