Rowe, Plimmer, Gaze among key picks for NZ A’s England tour

Georgia Plimmer. (Source – Getty Images)

A host of internationals, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe and Izzy Gaze among them, headline New Zealand A’s squad for their white-ball tour of England starting late June. A total of 11 players in the 15-member squad have played for New Zealand, and will be part of the three ODIs and three T20Is in what is the return leg of the bilateral ‘A’ series reintroduced to the New Zealand women’s pathway last year.

All-rounders Emma McLeod and Flora Devonshire, bowlers Rowe, Molly Penfold, and Bree Illing, and wicketkeeper-batters Gaze, Bella James, and Polly Inglis are among the players, along with Plimmer, Jess Watkin, and Izzy Sharp, who have all represented New Zealand. Medium pacers Amie Hucker, Emma Black, and Nensi Patel, as well as batting all-rounder Anna Browning, are the players in the team who have not yet made their international debuts.

The team’s most seasoned players are Rowe (107 internationals), Plimmer (67), and Gaze (55), while Watkin (15) and Penfold (24) have also been in the senior squad for some time. With the exception of James earlier this year, the other six internationals earned their maiden New Zealand caps in 2024 and 2025.

The team does not yet have a captain. The captain will be chosen “once the squad have assembled in England” by Brendon Donkers, the assistant coach for the Canterbury men, who will oversee the team’s coaching staff with assistance from Craig McMillan and Peter Borren.

“We’re really excited to be sending this group of talented players to England,” New Zealand Cricket’s head of women’s high-performance Liz Green said in a statement. “They’ll get the chance to further their game by facing a strong opponent in different conditions whilst getting a taste for what international touring is like.

“Generating elevated playing opportunities is key for building experience and depth. It’s also an opportunity for us to assess high potential players at the next level and test their readiness for international cricket.”

England A vs New Zealand A schedule

June 23 – 1st ODI, Derby

June 26 – 2nd ODI, Derby

June 29 – 3rd ODI, Chelmsford

July 4 – 1st T20I, Chelmsford

July 6 – 2nd T20I, Beckenham

July 8 – 3rd T20I – Beckenham

New Zealand A squad for white-ball tour of England

Emma Black, Anna Browning, Flora Devonshire, Izzy Gaze, Amie Hucker, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis, Bella James, Emma McLeod, Nensi Patel, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Izzy Sharp, Jess Watkin.