Cricket: White Ferns name three new caps for Twenty20 World Cup

The New Zealand women's cricket team to June's Twenty20 World Cup in England will include three international debutants.

Auckland's Saskia Bullen and Victoria Lind and Wellington's Sian Ruck come into the side replacing World Cup squad members Haidee Tiffen, who retired earlier this month, Beth McNeill, who is unavailable, and Abby Burrows.

Central Districts' Aimee Watkins, vice-captain for the World Cup, replaces Tiffen as skipper with Canterbury's Amy Satterthwaite named as her lieutenant.

Coach Gary Stead said left-arm orthodox-spinner Bullen will give the team extra bowling options.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Lind is expected to make an impact at the start of the innings, while left-arm pace bowler Ruck will bring an extra dimension to the Ferns' attack.

Stead was confident he had a well-structured side for the Twenty20 tournament after finishing runners-up to England in March's one-day World Cup in Australia.

"After the World Cup we felt that maybe we had one too many medium-pace bowlers. Bringing in an extra spinner means the balance of the team is better.

"It's an exciting squad. We've got real power hitters such as Suzie Bates, Kate Pulford and Nicola Browne.

"We have a good mix of containing bowlers and alternative options with the ball and experience-wise, there are some really sound heads."

The White Ferns leave New Zealand at the end of May, travelling first to Brisbane where they will play three Twenty20 games against Australia.

They journey to England on June 4, and will be based at Taunton where all matches, other than the semifinals and final, will be played.

New Zealand will play warm-up games against England and India on June 8 and 9.

The tournament starts on June 11 with New Zealand opening their campaign the following day against Australia.

New Zealand squad
Aimee Watkins (captain), Amy Satterthwaite (vice-captain), Suzie Bates, Nicola Browne, Saskia Bullen, Sophie Devine, Lucy Doolan, Victoria Lind, Katey Martin, Sara McGlashan, Rachel Priest, Kate Pulford, Sian Ruck, Sarah Tsukigawa.

- NZPA