Following the selection of their team for future white-ball matches against Bangladesh at home. New Zealand’s preparations for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup have accelerated.

The White Ferns selected a 15-player squad for the six white-ball matches against Bangladesh. The series will take place next month, with experienced captain Sophie Devine leading a potent New Zealand team once more.

NZ W VS BAN W: New Zealand Women Announces Squad for Bangladesh Tour

Regulars Suzie Bates, Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Maddy Green, and Hayley Jensen join Devine in the squad. Veteran wicket-keeper-batter Jess McFadyen may be in line to make her debut.

Sophie Devine will serve as the captain of both the T20I and ODI teams. Pace bowler Lea Tahuhu and batter Georgia Plimmer were only selected for the T20I team, while seamers Hannah Rowe and Molly Penfold were only selected for the ODIs.

NZ W VS BAN W: White Ferns Coach Ahead of Series

Ben Sawyer, the head coach of New Zealand, is optimistic about the series, which will be their last match before travelling to South Africa for the T20 World Cup in February.

“Over the last couple of months we’ve put together a blueprint of how we want to play, particularly in the T20 format, with an eye on the World Cup next year,” Sawyer said.

“This tour will be a great opportunity to continue working and refining those plans and making any necessary adjustments.

“At the moment we think we’ve got a pretty good style of play and so it will be about putting all of that together, on what should be some good wickets at home.”

NZ W VS BAN W: McFadyen to Make Debut at 31

McFadyen is joining the team for the first time. She was interested in competing in the T20 World Cup. attempting to “put her name forward” for the major competition after being denied the opportunity to make her debut at the Commonwealth Games in England.

Talking about the opportunity McFadyen said. “Ben was there as well… to be in that environment, see how he wanted to run things. It is  great to spend time with the established players – they are world class. I am lucky to be playing for [Wellington] Blaze, and have a dozen of them around me for training. [I am] super lucky to have those experiences.”

New Zealand Squad For Bangladesh Tour

New Zealand Squad: Sophie Devine (c), Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Lauren Down, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Hayley Jensen, Fran Jonas, Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Jess McFadyen, Molly Penfold (ODIs only), Hannah Rowe (ODIs only), Georgia Plimmer (T20Is only), Lea Tahuhu (T20Is only).

NZ W VS BAN W: Schedule

Friday 2 December – First T20, Christchurch

Sunday 4 December – Second T20, Dunedin

Wednesday 7 December – Third T20, Queenstown

Sunday 11 December – First ODI, Wellington

Wednesday 14 December – Second ODI, Napier

Saturday 17 December – Third ODI, Hamilton