Suzie Bates has taken over from Aimee Watkins as captain of the New Zealand women's cricket side.
The stylish batsman and useful medium pacer from Otago replaces Watkins, who retired after the quadrangular series held in England earlier in the year.
In 40 one-day matches, 24 year-old Bates has amassed 1065 runs and 33 wickets while in 34 Twenty20 internationals she's struck 715 runs and picked up 23 wickets.
Bates is also one of the more capable fielders in women's cricket, taking 23 catches since making her international debut in 2006.
The 24-year-old will first lead the White Ferns in the Rose Bowl against Australia starting on January 20 in a series comprising of five Twenty20 internationals and three one-day internationals before the team face England at home later in the summer.