Injury forces New Zealand into squad change at World Cup
A training mishap has forced the White Ferns to send an SOS to experienced bowler Hannah Rowe.
The White Ferns have been forced to make a squad change at the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup. 29-year-old bowler Hannah Rowe is replacing Flora Devonshire in New Zealand's 15-player squad.
Devonshire sustained a hand injury at a team training session at Indore's Holkar Stadium. The 22-year-old all-rounder was undertaking a fielding drill and suffered a laceration to her dominant hand. The injury is expected to take multiple weeks to heal, which complicates her availability for the remainder of the tournament.
The personnel exchange gives the squad a boost as far as international experience is concerned. Still uncapped in Women's ODIs, Devonshire was not a member of the White Ferns' XI that played against Australia on Wednesday. She has represented New Zealand twice at international level, playing in a pair of T20Is against Sri Lanka on home soil earlier this year.
Rowe on the other hand has played 60 ODIs for the White Ferns, most recently in March this year. She's taken 65 wickets at an average of 27.83.
The Palmerston North native will fly in from New Zealand in the coming days, expected to arrive in Guwahati on Tuesday ahead of the White Ferns' third World Cup match, on October 10, where they will take on Bangladesh.
New Zealand will be looking to chalk up their first World Cup win on Monday, taking on South Africa in Indore who also suffered a first-up defeat at the tournament. The White Ferns suffered an 89-run loss at the hands of reigning champions and World Cup fancies Australia.
White Ferns head coach Ben Sawyer spoke about losing Flora in the middle of the World Cup.
“We’re all feeling for Flora, she worked hard to earn her spot in this squad and it’s a real shame her tournament is ending early.”
“We’re pleased to be able to call up a senior player in Hannah Rowe," he added.
“Hannah’s obviously not a like-for-like replacement for Flora, but she offers an all-round skillset and has experience in sub-continent conditions.”
New Zealand Squad: Sophie Devine (c), Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis, Bella James, Jess Kerr, Melie Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu
Australia's World Cup campaign off to a winning start | Match Highlights | CWC25
Australia seal a dominant win over New Zealand in their first game at the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025.
