Heather Knight (ENG) and Suzie Bates (NZL) ahead of the 2024 cricket series. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The White Ferns are still working on finding the right balance between youth and experience as they look ahead to this year's T20 World Cup.
New Zealand begin a five-game series against England in Dunedin today without two of their biggest run-scorers.
Sophie Devine and Amelia Kerr aren't available for game one of the series as they travel back from India where they played in the Women's Premier League.
Stand-in captain Suzie Bates said the team's newer members were starting to benefit from more time on the international scene.
"Those younger players that got brought into international cricket at the Commonwealth Games (in 2022) are now further down the track in their international playing career," Bates said.
"We've got an opportunity to blood some players and see where they're at in international cricket.
"The girls have trained their butts off and while that doesn't guarantee anything, we've done everything we can to make sure that we're ready for a quality England side."
Devine and all-rounder Kerr will be back for game two in Nelson on Thursday.
In their absence Georgia Plimmer and Mikaela Greig have been called into the squad.
Central Hinds batter Greig, who is 28, could make her White Ferns debut.
Central Hinds' Mikaela Greig during the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield women’s cricket match between the Wellington Blaze v CD Hinds at the Basin Reserve, 2024. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Bates believes Greig will fill a hole for New Zealand.
"She's a hard hitting middle order batter which we're in search of so I know when she comes out to bat she's going to play one way.
"She's also a great slips fielder with some of the best hands in the country."
Four of England's best players will miss the first three T20s, with Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt, Sophie Ecclestone and Alice Capsey having played in the WPL.
Fixtures
March
19 First T20, Dunedin 1pm
22 Second T20, Nelson 1pm
24 Third T20, Nelson 1pm
27 Fourth T20, Wellington 1pm
29 Fifth T20, Wellington 1pm
31 First ODI, Wellington 11am
April
3 Second ODI, Hamilton 11am
7 Third ODI, Hamilton 11am
