New Zealand Women v England Women ODIs: All you need to know

The Cricketer provides all the information you need ahead of the three-match ODI series between New Zealand Women and England Women

What is it?

A three-match ODI series between New Zealand Women and England Women.

What’s the schedule?

First ODI: Hagley Oval, Christchurch (Tuesday, February 23 – 01:00am GMT, 14:00pm local time)

Second ODI: University of Otago Oval, Dunedin (Thursday, February 25– 10:00pm GMT; Friday, February 26 – 11:00am local time)

Third ODI: University of Otago Oval, Dunedin (Saturday, February 27 – 10:00pm GMT; Sunday, February 28 -11:00am local time)

What are New Zealand’s chances?

New Zealand enter this three-match series hoping to end a run of nine consecutive defeats stretching back to February 2019. Unfortunately, the White Ferns – who are currently fifth in the ICC rankings – have won just five ODIs against England since the start of 2010 and are without a series win against their opponents since August 2007.

To make matters worse, New Zealand will also be without their all-time leading ODI run scorer Suzie Bates. The 33-year old has scored over 4,500 ODI runs for her country, including 10 centuries and 27 half-centuries, but is ruled out with a shoulder injury.

However, in Sophie Devine and Amy Satterthwaite, New Zealand have two players in the top 10 of the ICC ODI rankings. Devine, the seventh-ranked all-rounder, shot into the limelight in January after hitting the fastest century in women’s T20 cricket (36 balls) and will be hoping to replicate this form on the ODI circuit. Satterthwaite, meanwhile, lies fifth in the batting rankings, averaging 38.93 in 122 matches.

^{New Zealand’s Amy Satterthwaite has six centuries and 22 half-centuries in 122 ODIs}

An exciting player who could make her international debut during the series is Brooke Halliday. The 25-year old is the second-highest run scorer in this season’s Hallyburton Johnstone Shield, hitting the joint-most fours (36) and featuring in the top 10 for both batting average and strike rate. She also impressed in the second warm-up match, scoring 79 runs off 56 deliveries to boost her selection chances. 16-year old bowler Fran Jonas is the other potential debutant in an otherwise familiar squad.

New Zealand squad: Sophie Devine (C), Natalie Dodd, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Hayley Jensen, Fran Jonas, Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Frankie Mackay, Katey Martin, Hannah Rowe, Amy Satterthwaite, Lea Tahuhu

How about England?

England haven’t played an ODI fixture since defeating Pakistan 2-1 in December 2019 so may be a tad rusty at the Hagley Oval. However, the reigning world champions have only lost two ODI series (excluding the Ashes) since lifting the World Cup in 2017 (both India) and have won 15 of their last 20 ODIs against New Zealand.

Like their opponents, England are missing a big name through injury with bowler Anya Shrubsole – ninth in the ICC rankings - ruled out by a knee injury. However, the 16-woman travelling squad is a strong one, containing eight World Cup winners and five players with 50+ caps to their names.

England’s one to watch is wicketkeeper-batsman Tammy Beaumont. Ranked sixth in the ICC batting standings, the 29-year old has an impressive 50 to 100 conversion rate, recording seven centuries from 16 50+ scores, and averages 41.87 in 71 ODIs for England. Beaumont scored just 14 runs when she last visited New Zealand in 2012 but after scoring 160 runs at 53.33 on home soil in 2018, she has the measure of her opponents.

^{Tammy Beaumont (L) and Sophie Ecclestone (R) are two of the players to watch for England}

Sophie Ecclestone, meanwhile, will be competing against New Zealand all-rounder Amelia Kerr in the battle of the young guns. The 21-year old has 37 wickets at an economy of 3.8 in 24 England appearances and lies two places behind her New Zealand counterpart in the ICC bowling rankings (15th). Ecclestone was England’s leading wicket-taker when these sides met in 2018, collecting six dismissals, and will be a threat again with another three years’ experience to draw on.

England squad: Heather Knight (C), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross, Freya Davies, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Georgia Elwiss, Tash Farrant, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Nat Sciver, Mady Villiers, Fran Wilson, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Danni Wyatt

What’s the weather looking like?

The pitch in Christchurch for the first ODI is expected to be dry with no rain forecast in the week preceding the match. Conditions are set to be cloudy with a gentle breeze and temperatures between 18^oC and 26^oC.

Rain in expected in the 48 hours before the second ODI in Dunedin but the forecast for both match days is warm and cloudy.

Where can I watch it?

Viewers in the UK can watch all three matches on BT Sport while in New Zealand, streaming service Spark Sport have the rights.

Fox Sports will be televising the series in Australia.