New Zealand pick 16-year-old spinner for ICC Women's World Cup

Wellington [New Zealand], May 16 (ANI): New Zealand have picked 16-year-old leg-spinner Amelia Kerr in their 15-member squad for the forthcoming ICC Women's World Cup, which starts in England from June 24. Kerr will become the youngest New Zealand women's cricketer to represent the country at the World Cup. Suzie Bates, who in 2016 became the first player to win both the ICC Women's ODI and T20I Player of the Year awards in the same year, will captain the side in her third 50-over World Cup. Wellington all-rounder Sophie Devine returns to the side after breaking her thumb at the start of the year. She had missed the ODI and T20I series against Australia women. 12 of the 15-member squad attended last year's World T20 in India, while six players have more than fifty ODIs to their name. Following two training camps at Lincoln in Christchurch, New Zealand coach Haidee Tiffen said selecting the final 15 players was seriously challenging. "We've had a lot of players put their hands up domestically, internationally and during our two recent camps - so the last few spots were particularly fiercely contested," she said. "I'm really happy with the balance of the squad. I think it's a strong team who are certainly capable of bringing that cup home. It's really exciting to have Amelia in the squad and she's proved herself more than ready for the big stage." "With the likes of Suzie Bates, Amy Satterthwaite, Katey Martin and Sophie Devine - we're not short on leaders in the group. There's been a real focus on our team-first mentality and everyone's bought into that - which means we'll turn up in England as a tight, motivated unit," she added. New Zealand squad :Suzie Bates (capt), Erin Bermingham, Sophie Devine, Maddy Green, Holly Huddleston, Leigh Kasperek, Amelia Kerr, Katey Martin, Thamsyn Newton, Katie Perkins, Anna Peterson, Rachel Priest, Hannah Rowe, Amy Satterthwaite (vice-capt), Lea Tahuhu (ANI)