Post by : Badri Ariffin

Suzie Bates, the iconic figure of New Zealand cricket, has revealed her decision to retire from international play after the Women’s T20 World Cup set to take place in England. At 38 years old, she is wrapping up an extraordinary career spanning two decades.

On Friday, Bates announced that this tournament will mark her final appearance donning the White Ferns jersey. She has achieved an impressive 362 international caps, making her the most-capped female cricketer of all time.

Bates stands out as the first woman to amass 25,000 runs across all formats and leads as the highest run-scorer in T20 Internationals with 4,717 runs. Notably, she also holds the record for the most catches in women’s ODIs (93) and T20Is (96).

Making her domestic debut for Otago Sparks at just 15 years old in 2003, Bates launched her international career in 2006. She took over the captaincy of the New Zealand team in 2011, leading them in 151 matches.

Beyond cricket, she showcased her versatility by participating in basketball for New Zealand in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Bates expressed her pride in her journey with the White Ferns, hoping to cap off her illustrious career with another T20 World Cup title, having previously secured her first in the UAE two years ago.

Current White Ferns skipper Amelia Kerr lauded Bates, labeling her one of the all-time greats in cricket and an essential inspiration for the squad.

The Women’s T20 World Cup is scheduled to commence on June 12 in England.

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