New Zealand name 15-player squad for T20I series against Australia
Cricknation Update: New Zealand Women’s Team.
(Photo source: Matthew Lewis – via ICC/ICC) New Zealand have announced a 15-player squad for the three-match T20I series against Australia, with all matches to be played at the North Sydney Oval. The series is the White Ferns’ first international assignment of the 2026-27 season and will also help the team prepare for the 2027 ICC Women’s Champions Trophy, which will be held in India for the first time. The White Ferns’ official X account confirmed the team, with Amelia Kerr named ctain.
New Zealand have retained the 11 players who featured in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup earlier this year, while four players have been brought back into the setup. đź“© Our team is ready for the upcoming three-match T20 series against Australia starting from Sunday 18th October in Sydney. pic.twitter.com/Icsc1ZNkv4 — White Ferns (@WHITE_FERNS) October 1, 2026 The team will leave for Australia on October 12 and will face Governor General XI in a warm-up match on October 15 before the start of the T20 series.
Australia will play a three-match ODI series against Bangladesh in Brisbane before hosting New Zealand in Sydney. Eden Carson, Molly Penfold, Hannah Rowe and Bella James are the four players recalled. Carson is an off-spinner, while Penfold and Rowe are pace bowlers.
James is a batsman who has played one T20 match for New Zealand in March 2025. Both Rowe and James were part of the New Zealand A team that toured Sri Lanka in May. The return of Penfold and Rowe follows the retirement of Sophie Devine and Lee Tahuhu.
James has been included to strengthen the batting after the retirement of Suzie Bates. With wicketkeeper-batsman Izzy Gaze absent after undergoing surgery on a thumb injury, Paulie Inglis is set to take the gloves. Gaze is targeting a return to play in early 2027.
“We’re excited to welcome back Eden, Hannah, Molly, and Bella. There’s a balance of experience and future-focus in this squad and it’s going to be a chance for the group to test themselves against a quality side. Competing against the best in the world is always going to be a challenge, but it also provides a lot of opportunities to learn and strengthen skillsets within that,” Dean Brownlie, New Zealand’s batting coach, was quoted as saying by Zee News.
When the two sides last met in September 2024, Australia won the T20 series 3-0, with Ashley Gardner named the Player of the Series. Also read: Australia include Nick Maddinson and Sam Harper in the squad for South Africa Test New Zealand’s squad for T20 series vs Australia 2026: Amelia Kerr (ctain), Eden Carson, Flora Devonshire, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Brie Elling, Polly Inglis, Bella James, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Nancy Patel, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Patel Rowe, Izzy Sharp.
