Izzy Sharp batting for Team South in the 2024 North v South Women's cricket series in Napier. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
A number of White Ferns players will miss the North-South cricket series over the next week with selectors taking the opportunity to give some domestic players higher honours.
Sophie Devine, Melie Kerr, Suzie Bates, Brooke Halliday, Georgia Plimmer, Rosemary Mair, Lea Tahuhu and Molly Penfold are either injured or are required to rest.
However, internationals Maddy Green, Jess Kerr, Fran Jonas and Hannah Rowe will represent the North, and Polly Inglis, Hayley Jensen and Eden Carson have been named in the South.
Recent White Ferns debutantes Emma McLeod, Flora Devonshire and Bree Illing will strengthen the Northern line-up while Izzy Sharp is in the South along with Bella James who is returning from injury.
Northern Brave captain Jess Watkin will make her debut in the North squad along with 18-year-old rising star and recent New Zealand U19 representative Eve Wolland.
Anna Browning and PJ Watkins of the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield winning Otago Sparks will make their debut in the South squad, joining eight of their Otago team-mates in the squad of 14.
Re-established in the 2022-23 season, the North v South series aims to bridge the gap between domestic and international cricket.
North Squad:
Maddy Green (c) - Auckland
Ocean Bartlett - Central Districts
Flora Devonshire - Central Districts
Kate Gaging - Central Districts
Amie Hucker - Auckland
Bree Illing - Auckland
Jess Kerr - Wellington
Emma McLeod - Central Districts
Nensi Patel - Northern Districts
Josie Penfold - Auckland
Hannah Rowe - Central Districts
Saachi Shahri - Auckland
Jess Watkin - Northern Districts
Eve Wolland - Northern Districts
Head coach: Rhys Morgan
Assistant coach: Justine Dunce
South Squad:
Hayley Jensen (c) - Otago
Sarah Asmussen - Canterbury
Missy Banks - Canterbury
Emma Black - Otago
Caitlin Blakely - Otago
Anna Browning - Otago*
Eden Carson - Otago
Olivia Gain - Otago
Polly Inglis - Otago
Bella James - Otago
Louisa Kotkamp - Otago*
Izzy Sharp - Canterbury
Jess Simmons - Canterbury
PJ Watkins - Otago
Head coach: Donovan Grobbelaar
Assistant coach: Emily Drumm
Fixtures: All games in Lincoln.
Match 1: Friday 28 March 10:30am
Match 2: Sunday 30 March 10:30am
Match 3: Tuesday 2 April 10am
