Mair, Gaze return to White Ferns for tour to Sri Lanka

Rosemary Mair.
Photo: Photosport Ltd 2019

Central Districts bowler Rosemary Mair and Auckland wicketkeeper Izzy Gaze have earned recalls to the White Ferns squad for the upcoming tour to Sri Lanka.

Mair last featured for New Zealand against England during the Commonwealth Games last August but missed out on last year’s tour to the West Indies and the home series against Bangladesh, as well as the T20 World Cup earlier this year.

Gaze, who is selected as wicketkeeping cover to Bernadine Bezuidenhout, was part of the squad which won ODI and T20I series’ away against West Indies but missed out on selection for the T20 World Cup in South Africa.

Head coach Ben Sawyer said the pair deserved to be back in the squad.

“We’re excited to have Rosemary and Izzy back.

“Both players have worked hard on their respective games since their last international tours and we’re looking forward to seeing how they handle the challenges that this tour will bring.

“They both bring their own unique strengths to the group and we hope that they’ll contribute to what will hopefully be a successful tour.”

The tour will be the first time the White Ferns have ever visited Sri Lanka for a bilateral series.

Of the touring squad, only Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates have experienced playing in the country and that was back at the 2012 World Cup under the leadership of current Black Caps head coach Gary Stead.

The remainder of the touring squad has a familiar feel to it, with Devine leading the side, alongside other experienced internationals Melie Kerr, Lea Tahuhu and Maddy Green.

Eden Carson and Fran Jonas continue alongside Kerr in a young spin group that will suit the dry sub-continent conditions.

Sawyer said he was relishing the opportunity to work with the squad in new and testing conditions.

“This is the first time almost all of the squad will have experienced playing in Sri Lanka so it’s a good opportunity for our players to develop their game in testing sub-continent conditions.

“Sri Lanka will pose challenges with the unfamiliar conditions out in the middle, but also with the heat and humidity, so we will need to be able to adapt quickly both on and off the field.

“The group has been really fortunate to have experienced some unique conditions with the recent trips to Antigua and South Africa.

“We adapted to similar heat and conditions in the West Indies, so that experience should bode well in Sri Lanka.

“We also have a handful of players who have played in similar sub-continent conditions in India so that experience will be valuable for us to adapt.”

Auckland batter Lauren Down is unavailable for the tour due to family reasons, as is Otago all-rounder, Hayley Jensen, who’s recovering from knee surgery she underwent in April.

Canterbury batter Kate Anderson is also unavailable with a finger injury.

Sawyer will be supported by Dean Brownlie (batting coach), Craig Howard (spin bowling coach) and Chennai Super Kings academy coach Sriram Krishnamurthy as tour coach who will join up with the group when they arrive in Sri Lanka.

The touring party departs for Sri Lanka on 22 June ahead of the first ODI against Sri Lanka in Galle on 27 June.

The White Ferns central contract list will be announced on 21 June.