Rosemary Mair makes a comeback as New Zealand announces seasoned squad for T20 World Cup

New Zealand's fast bowler Rosemary Mair is set to make a comeback for the women's T20 World Cup 2024 after recovering from a back injury sustained during the home series against England in March. In addition, the experienced duo of captain Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates will be appearing in their ninth T20 World Cup when the tournament kicks off in the UAE in October. This trio of key players will undoubtedly provide a significant boost to New Zealand's campaign in the upcoming competition.

This means the two would have played in every edition of the T20 World Cup.

Mair, who has 18 wickets from 24 T20Is, will bolster a pace attack comprising the experienced Lea Tahuhu, Jess Kerr, Hannah Rowe and Molly Penfold, while Bates and Brooke Halliday are also options as fast-bowling allrounders. The spin-bowling department includes Leigh Kasperek, Melie Kerr, Fran Jonas and Eden Carson.

It's a largely experienced squad, with wicketkeeper-batter Izzy Gaze the only player not to have played a T20 World Cup before.

"I'm really pleased with this squad; I think these are our best 15 players to adapt to what will likely be varied conditions," New Zealand head coach Ben Sawyer said. "Soph [Devine] and Suze [Bates] have a huge amount of tournament experience from World Cups to franchise leagues, so we'll certainly be leaning on that knowledge in what's going to be a pretty intense competition.

"Rosemary's had an unfortunate run with injury over the past few months, and she's worked hard to be fit for this tournament. She's proved herself as one of our key pace options and we're excited she's returning."

New Zealand will also tour Australia for three T20Is in the lead-up to the World Cup, with the same squad set to participate in the games on September 19, 22 and 24 in Mackay and Brisbane.

They then play warm-up games against South Africa and England on September 29 and October 1, respectively, before the start of the World Cup proper, where they face India in their first match on October 4. Apart from India, those in New Zealand's group include Australia, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

The World Cup will be Devine's last assignment as New Zealand's T20I captain.

New Zealand squad for women's T20 World Cup 2024

Sophie Devine (capt), Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Fran Jonas, Leigh Kasperek, Jess Kerr, Melie Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu