Cricket: Allrounder recalled to White Ferns after two years

Auckland allrounder Helen Watson is set to play for New Zealand for the first time in two years after being called into the White Ferns cricket squad for the Australian leg of the Rose Bowl series.

Selection convener Mike Shrimpton said Watson would join the squad for the three-match Australian leg of the six-match series.

Watson last played for New Zealand in the 2002 one-day international Rose Bowl against Australia, playing the Australian matches before being dropped for the New Zealand leg of the series.

White Ferns selector Debbie Hockley said Watson had "thoroughly earned" her international recall after a strong all-round New Zealand A series against Australia A at Lincoln last week.

Watson was unbeaten in all three matches with scores of 85 not out, 39 not out and 10 not out. She also bowled at under four runs an over.

The Ferns - two down in the series - have one remaining match in New Zealand.

They meet the super-confident Australians at Westpac Park in Hamilton today hoping to reverse the results of the first two matches played in Auckland and Hamilton, where they were well beaten.

- NZPA