Bernadine Bezuidenhout included in New Zealand's Women's T20 World Cup squad

Bezuidenhout hasn't played for New Zealand since January 2020 after taking two years out of the game to recover from RED-S (relative energy deficiency in sport)

Bernadine Bezuidenhout has been named in New Zealand's 15-strong squad for the 2023 T20 World Cup.

The 29-year-old hasn't played international cricket since January 2020 – she took two years out of the game after being diagnosed with RED-S (relative energy deficiency in sport) – but previously made nine T20I appearances for the White Ferns in 2018.

She has also represented South Africa.

Her recall follows a run of strong domestic form for Northern Brave. In the Super Smash, she scored 133 runs at a strike rate of 111.76 in six outings while in List A cricket, she has 191 runs at a rate of 88.01 this season.

Bezuidenhout, a wicketkeeper-batter, replaces Jessica McFadyen in the only change from the squad which faced Bangladesh in December 2022.

^{Captain Sophie Devine and head coach Ben Sawyer [Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images]}

Sophie Devine will once again captain New Zealand while Georgia Plimmer and Fran Jonas, both of whom were named in the Under-19 World Cup squad, are also involved. Jonas has since pulled out of the Under-19 tournament with a minor calf injury.

Head coach, Ben Sawyer, said: "For the past seven or eight months we've been looking to establish a brand of cricket which we believe spectators will enjoy and, at the same time, gives us the best possible chance of success in major tournaments.

"With both the bat in hand and her work behind the stumps, we believe that Bernie will contribute positively to that style of play.

"Bernie has already shown this season what she can do with both bat and gloves, and we think that her previous international experience will stand her in good stead in this World Cup.

"She has gone on quite a journey to return to cricket this season and we're really looking forward to welcoming her back into the White Ferns environment."

New Zealand have been placed in group A alongside Australia, South Africa, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and will begin their tournament against Australia on February 11.

Squad: Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates, Bernadine Bezuidenhout, Eden Carson, Lauren Down, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Hayley Jensen, Fran Jonas, Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu

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