Ahead of the three-match ODI series between New Zealand and England, The Cricketer considers who would make a combined XI between the two sides
Danni Wyatt is unlucky to miss out on this XI, especially after scoring a half-century in the second warm-up match. However, given the depth of batting talent on offer and Tammy Beaumont’s sixth-place ranking in the ICC batting standings, there simply isn’t room for everyone.
29-year old Beaumont has scored 2,387 runs at 41.87 in 71 ODIs and has converted seven of her 16 50+ scores into centuries. That average rises to 44.5 against New Zealand and the Lightning opener has scored a half-century in three of her last four appearances against the White Ferns.
Beaumont struggled during her last ODI tour of New Zealand, scoring just 14 runs in three matches in 2012, but returning nearly a decade later as one of the best batsmen in women’s cricket, she’s a safe bet to be among the top scorers this time around.
One place above Beaumont in batting rankings is fellow international veteran, Amy Satterthwaite. The Canterbury native has 3,932 ODI runs to her name, including six centuries and 22 half-centuries, in 122 appearances. She’s also a handy right-arm spinner with 44 wickets and an economy of 4.46.
However, what’s more worrying for England are her stats on home soil. Four of Satterthwaite’s six ODI centuries have been struck in New Zealand while her average rises from 38.93 to 55.75 in 44 matches in her own backyard. Needing just 68 runs to reach 4,000 in ODI cricket, it would be no surprise if Satterthwaite reached the milestone in just one innings.
Tammy Beaumont (L) and Amy Satterthwaite (R) have a combined 6,319 ODI runs
Adding a further 101 caps to this vastly experienced top order, England captain Heather Knight is another right-arm spin option and brings with her 2,800 runs, one century and 19 half-centuries.
The all-rounder enters the series in stunning form after an impressive two-match cameo in last summer’s Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. Knight amassed 158 runs at a strike rate of 88.26 for Western Storm, smashing 17 fours and recording a top score of 91 not out.
While both Nat Sciver and New Zealand’s Sophie Devine are included in this XI, Sciver gets the number four berth courtesy of her superior batting average. The 28-year old, ranked eighth in the ICC all-rounder rankings, averages 39.27 with the bat and has taken 44 wickets with her medium pace bowling. However, her standout stat is her explosive career strike rate of 97.21.
The all-rounder top-scored for England during their first warm-up fixture against a New Zealand XI with 75 runs off 74 deliveries – an ominous sign.
One of the automatic picks for this XI, New Zealand captain Sophie Devine was the top run-scorer when these sides met in 2018, amassing 164 runs – including 117no in the third ODI at Grace Road – at a strike rate of 95.34.
Like Sciver, she is a destructive batting all-rounder with 73 wickets at an economical 4.36 to accompany her 2,660 career runs, and after breaking the record for the fastest T20 century in women’s cricket in January (36 balls vs Otago Sparks), Devine is a white-ball cricketer in red-hot form.
England’s Nat Sciver bowls against Australia in July 2019 (L) and celebrates a wicket with Sarah Taylor (R)
Following her impressive performances for Northern in this season’s Hallyburton Johnstone Shield and 56-ball 79 (eight four and three sixes) in the second warm-up fixture, uncapped batting all-rounder Brooke Halliday was a surprise contender for this team.
However, Natalie Dodd gets the nod. The 28-year isn’t as experienced as her teammate Katey Martin or England’s Lauren Winfield-Hill but is in top form on home soil - in last season’s Hallyburton Johnstone Shield, Dodd averaged 48.12. However, more importantly, in the second warm-up match she scored 91 runs at the top of the order – a versatile batter with confidence running high.
After making her ODI debut as a 16-year old in 2016, Amelia Kerr burst onto the international scene in 2018 with 374 runs and 13 wickets in seven appearances. The 20-year old has struggled to replicate that batting form over the last two seasons but ended 2020 on a high with six wickets in two ODIs against Australia.
A slight gamble but if Kerr can rediscover her 2018 form, she’s a potential match-winner for New Zealand.
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Sandwiched in between two stars of the future is England’s bowling all-rounder Katherine Brunt. The 35-year old is aging like a fine wine, taking 23 wickets and averaging 26.88 runs in her last 17 appearances.
Likely to lead England’s seam attack in Anya Shrubsole’s absence, Brunt scored 41 runs off 29 deliveries and recorded figures of 7-1-32-0 during the first warm-up match before being one of only three England bowlers to concede under a run a ball during the second. Hugely dependable and in fine form.
21-year old Sophie Ecclestone is England’s premier left-arm spinner, taking 37 wickets with a miserly economy of just 3.8 in 24 ODI appearances. She was England’s leading wicket-taker in 2018 with six wickets and with an additional three years’ experience under her belt is likely top the charts again.
However, while her bowling exploits are well-documented, she’s also in good touch with the bat. Ecclestone scored 74 runs in two appearances for Thunder during last season’s Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy (including a top score of 60no) and hit a half-century during the second warm-up match. The player to watch this series.
Katherine Brunt (L) and Sophie Ecclestone (R) have taken 28 wickets against New Zealand
England internationals Kate Cross and Sarah Glenn were the two main contenders for this position. Seamer Cross is the more experienced player with 33 wickets in 26 ODIs. 21-year old spinner Glenn, meanwhile, has only played in three ODIs to date but has taken eight wickets with an economy of 3.36.
With the two so closely matched and an abundance of seam and spin options throughout the XI, this selection came down to the warm-up matches and it’s Glenn who edges it. After taking a bit of pummelling in the first match, Glenn recovered to take 1-43 in the second – including the wicket of in-form Halliday – while Cross struggled in both.
With England’s Anya Shrubsole (90 wickets in 70 ODIs) – the obvious choice for this position- missing the series with a knee injury, it falls to New Zealand seamer Lea Tahuhu to occupy the number 11 berth.
The 30-year old, ranked 22nd in the ICC bowling standings, has 70 wickets in 68 ODIs and an impressive economy of 4.38. Tahuhu has only made one appearance for Canterbury Magicians in this season’s Hallyburton Johnstone Shield but conceded just 20 runs from her six overs, suggesting she won’t take more than a few balls to get her eye in.
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