New Zealand’s stunning run in the T20 World Cup 2024, where it defied odds to lift an ICC trophy, suggested a side rediscovering its competitive spark. But the challenge before the White Ferns New Zealand ahead of the 50-over World Cup is a sterner one: the longer, white-ball format has not been kind to them in recent years.
The team stumbled through the ICC Women’s Championship 2022-25, scraping automatic qualification in sixth place only by virtue of a superior Net Run Rate over Bangladesh. The numbers tell the story of a worrying decline: from a 61 per cent win record (13 from 21 matches) in the inaugural 2014-17 cycle, to 38.8 per cent (7/18) in 2017-21, and a new low of 37.5 per cent (9/24) this time.
It is, in many ways, emblematic of New Zealand’s drift since its historic 2000 World Cup triumph. The side last reached a final in 2009, and even hosting the tournament in 2022 could not break the cycle, with the White Ferns bowing out at the group stage. It ended in a disappointing sixth place after securing only three wins, similar to its campaign in 2017.
New Zealand Team News
Sophie Devine is all set to lead New Zealand in the upcoming ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup for the last time. Devine has already announced that this mega event will be her last assignment in the 50-over format before she retires. After producing a surprise performance in 2024 to lift the T20 World Cup, the big question remains: can they do it again in the 50-over format.
ICC Ranked 4th ODI Team New Zealand step-in the 2025 Women’s World Cup, having won the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup. However, the White Ferns, who hosted the latest edition of the tournament in 2022, had a disappointing outing back then at home, winning only three of their seven matches and finishing sixth on the points table.
Yet, they have a rich history to draw inspiration from, having lifted the World Cup title in 2000 under Emily Drumm, and being one of the three teams to have lifted the prized title. They will aim to pocket the ODI title too under the leadership of Sophie Devine, who will retire from ODI cricket post the carnival in India and Sri Lanka.
Led by Sophie Devine, the White Ferns have unveiled a promising cast to make their case at the upcoming ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025. The squad features young names making their maiden Cricket World Cup appearance coupled with seasoned campaigners, who will bring in some much-needed experience on the big stage. With Craig Mcmillan appointed as the Assistant coach, the white ferns would love to learn from the experience . Given is the SWOT Analysis of the team which is a blend of experience and exurbence of youth.
SWOT Analysis of New Zealand
Strengths :
ODI Stalwarts Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates team up for one final time :
New Zealand skipper Sophie Devine will be featuring in her fifth Cricket World Cup. The 36-year-old has announced that the tournament will mark the last time she features in the ODI format.With 3990 runs and 107 wickets to her name from 152 ODI outings, Devine stands tall as one of the great all-rounders in the format.
Sophie Devine’s leadership and her all-round ability will be key to New Zealand’s success. Recently, she showed strong form in the Women’s Hundred while playing for Southern Brave, scoring 165 runs in nine innings at a strike-rate of 104.43 and taking 13 wickets at an economy of 6.70. In the recent warm-up against India A, she scored 34 off 29 and also picked up one wicket.
The White Ferns will be looking to make the most of her fierce striking with the bat at the top of the order, to go with her dexterous variations with the ball. Also playing in her fifth Cricket World Cup will be Suzie Bates, New Zealand’s leading run-getter in Women’s ODIs. Boasting a staggering 5896 runs off 171 outings, Bates, 37, will be teaming up alongside her skipper and long-time teammate for one last time at the marquee tournament.
The Devine–Suzie Bates opening partnership has long underpinned New Zealand’s batting strength, amassing 1,998 runs — second only to Bates and Amy Satterthwaite’s 2,425. But with Devine set to step away from the format after this World Cup and time catching up with her long-time partner, the hunt for reliable replacements soon began.
One of New Zealand’s biggest strengths is their experienced duo that will be at the helm for the thirteenth edition of the mega event. Skipper Sophie Devine will be appearing in her fifth and final ODI World Cup at the age of 36. With over 3,900 runs and more than 100 wickets in 152 ODIs, she is arguably one of the finest all-rounders in women’s cricket. The White Ferns will rely on her powerful batting at the top and clever bowling skills to set the tone for one final time in her international career.
Alongside her, Suzie Bates, New Zealand’s leading run-scorer in ODIs, will also be featuring in her fifth World Cup. At 37, Bates has amassed nearly 5,900 runs in 171 games and will once again join forces with Devine for what promises to be a memorable farewell on the world stage.
Team of Match winning All Rounders
Another major strength for New Zealand lies in their pool of talented all-rounders. Their success in last year’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup showed how valuable players who can both bat and bowl are, and the White Ferns will lean on this once again.
A key reason behind their success at last year’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, New Zealand will once again rely on the rich tapestry of all-rounders in their squad. From the old guard in the likes of Devine and Bates to the globetrotting brilliance of Melie Kerr, who was Player of the Tournament in Dubai, and a fresh talent in debutant Flora Devonshire, the White Ferns have multiple all-round resources in their midst. The former Cricket World Cup winners will put the opposition on the edge with both bat and ball through the course of 50 overs.
Along with Devine, New Zealand’s all-round depth is their strength. Amelia Kerr, veteran Suzie Bates and youngster Flora Devonshire are expected to provide balance. In the spin department, Amelia and Eden Carson will take most of the responsibility, but Devonshire’s left-arm orthodox spin could be the surprise package. The 22-year-old has played only two T20Is and is yet to make her ODI debut.
Five players — Amelia Kerr, Georgia Plimmer, Bernadine Bezuidenhout, Izzy Gaze, and Bella James — were tried alongside Bates in recent series, with only Kerr finding any real success. In just four innings, she piled up 214 runs, including an unbeaten 100 against South Africa in 2024.
Spin power of New Zealand a key
A big strength for teams in sub-continent conditions will be their lineup of spinners. New Zealand have that box ticked with a host of diverse alternatives. Leg-spinner Melie Kerr will be leading the charge, having already shown her ability to star with the ball in White Ferns’ T20 World Cup win, where she finished as the leading wicket-taker.
Accompanying her to shoulder the responsibility of their spin attack with be Eden Carson, who was also instrumental in New Zealand’s success in Dubai. The prodigious spin-bowling all-rounder has been New Zealand’s standout performer since debuting as a 16-year-old in 2016. Kerr shouldered the batting responsibilities in this cycle with 927 runs from 24 matches. She also underlined her value with the ball, finishing as the team’s second-highest wicket-taker (23) behind her elder sister Jess Kerr’s 30.
That said, moving Amelia up the order leaves the No.3 spot vulnerable. Plimmer looks the likeliest to continue opening, while Devine has settled into the No. 4 role, scoring 607 runs in 14 innings, leaving Kerr in her established slot. Brooke Halliday and Maddy Green will add strength to the middle-order.
The team blends experience with youth. Veterans like Sophie Devine and Suzie Bates bring calm and skill, while Melie Kerr adds her international flair, having been named Player of the Tournament in Dubai. Exciting newcomers, such as 22-year-old Flora Devonshire, also provide fresh energy. Devonshire impressed in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield with more than 250 runs and 18 wickets, giving the team more balance in the middle order and extra options in the bowling department.
If there is one area where New Zealand continues to hold an edge, it is in its all-round resources. Joining Devine, Bates, and Kerr is the emerging talent of debutant Flora Devonshire, who earned her maiden call-up post her success in the domestic circuit and is poised to make her ODI debut.
Meanwhile, Flora Devonshire offers added variation among the tweakers in what will be her first Cricket World Cup. The left-arm orthodox spinner, who brings in the angular advantage against right-handers, has been rewarded for her success in the domestic circuit, and is primed to make her ODI debut.
Weaknesses
The faith in fresh faces is also evident in the selections of Polly Inglis, James and Bree Illing, who join Devonshire as first-time World Cup picks. Their inclusion signals a side looking beyond the old guard and willing to gamble on untested potential, though whether the group has had enough time to build cohesion remains uncertain.
Having no international cricket in the past six months — playing last against Sri Lanka in March — leaves New Zealand short on match practice heading into the World Cup. The lack of competitive exposure could be costly in Indian conditions, yet the White Ferns’ combination of experience and emerging prowess gives them a platform to compete with renewed purpose.
Over-dependence on experienced players like Devine, Bates, Lea Tahuhu and Amelia could hurt the White Ferns. If these key players fail, the youngsters may struggle under pressure. Another concern is the inconsistency at the top of Bates. Since January 2024, she averages just 23.61 in 13 innings, the second-lowest among openers with at least 10 innings.
New Zealand’s recent form in ODIs shows some clear weaknesses. In the ICC Women’s Championship, they finished sixth, winning just 9 out of 24 matches. Before their series win against Sri Lanka in March 2025, they had suffered losses against Australia, England, and India, highlighting their struggles against top teams. On top of that, the team will have to adapt to challenging conditions, including hot and humid weather, which could test their fitness and stamina over the course of the tournament.
Opportunities :
For a side in transition, this World Cup is a great opportunity for the second tier of experience to step up and cushion Devine and Bates. With Devine set to walk away from the format, there’s no better stage than the marquee tournament for New Zealand’s youngsters to take control of the future of the side.
This World Cup is a golden opportunity for youngsters such as Devonshire (22), Carson (24), Isabella Gaze (21), Georgia Plimmer (21), and Bree Illing (21). Both Carson and Plimmer impressed during the 2024 T20 World Cup triumph. Gaze also scored a fine century against India A in a warm-up match. The tournament could help them establish themselves in the long run.
Opportunities for New Zealand lie in the fresh faces in their squad. Since the 2022 World Cup they hosted, the team has gone through a transition and now includes six players who will be making their debut in a 50-over World Cup, along with four others playing their first senior ICC event.
One of the biggest opportunities comes from Flora Devonshire, who has the chance to fill the role left by Fran Jonas. Jonas had taken 20 wickets in 26 matches, but Devonshire brings her own all-round skills with both bat and ball, giving the team a new dimension.Illing, just 21, broke into the national side against Sri Lanka in March, immediately impressing with four wickets and later topping the wicket charts on the New Zealand A tour of England.
Threats :
Though New Zealand are the reigning T20 World Champions, they have a point to prove in ODI cricket – the format they have least prioritised in recent times. They have not managed to reach the knockout rounds of an ODI World Cup since they were runners-up in 2009. With Sophie Devine’s retirement, other more experienced and promising players will need to step up in their leadership roles.
Their recent results have been patchy – they were swept by England (3-0) and lost a series against India (2-1) and Australia (2-0), although they did recently defeat Sri Lanka in an ODI series in March 2025 (2-0). The White Ferns will have to deal with this pressure if they expect to go far in the tournament.
While New Zealand have talent, converting potential into consistent performance on the biggest stage will be a challenge. Inexperience remains their biggest threat in the race for the semi-finals or beyond.
New Zealand put on a suboptimal show on Indian soil in 2024 in the three-match ODI series against India. It’s batting looked heavily dependent on Devine. A batting collapse might leave the bowling with a little too much to do. The White Ferns will seek solidity particularly in the PowerPlay.
New Zealand’s Squad for Women’s World Cup 2025:
Sophie Devine (C), Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Flora Devonshire, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis, Bella James, Jess Kerr, Amelia Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Georgia Plimmer, Lea Tahuhu
New Zealand’s Fixtures for Women’s World Cup 2025:
1 October 2025: vs Australia – Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore
6 October 2025: vs South Africa – Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore
10 October 2025: vs Bangladesh – Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
14 October 2025: vs Sri Lanka – R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
18 October 2025: vs Pakistan – R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
23 October 2025: vs India – Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai
25 October 2025: vs England – ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam