Australia vs New Zealand: Top 5 Players To Watch Out For

author-image
Shruti Banerjee
New Update
As two of the best teams in the world, Australia and New Zealand will lock horns against each other in the three-match T20I series, here are the top 5 players who could be the game changers for their respective teams in this nerve-wracking battles.



 



Meg Lanning:



Meg Lanning plays a major part in the middle order for Australia in limited overs as well as in the shortest format. No. 3 batter in ICC Ranking in the T20 format, she last played in the T20I against England in March, where her team clinched the Women’s T20 Tri-series featuring Australia, England and India.



She has been in a great form in the first round of the recently concluded Women's National Cricket League (WNCL); where she has amassed 157 runs in 2 matches including a blistering 120*. Her formidable form will play a pivotal role for her team to score big as well as to chase them.



Ellyse Perry:



No. 5 in ICC T20 All-Rounder Ranking, Ellyse Perry last made an appearance in T20I against India earlier this year. She has played 90 T20I matches till date; where she has scored 875 runs and has 84 wickets in her name, including her best 4/12 against India.



She has scored 74 runs and bagged 5 wickets in the first round of WNCL. Her presence would help her team in clinching the victory from the most gruesome situations.



Suzie Bates:



The classy stroke-maker Suzie Bates has been in a stupendous form this year. She has more than 2500 runs in her 101 T20I appearances, including her best 124*. Captaining Southern Vipers’ in the KIA Super League, she has scored 245 runs in 10 matches; though her team couldn’t perform well and managed to win only 2 games.



No. 2 in ICC T20 batting rankings, Bates has recently stepped down from the captaincy of WHITE FERNS, saying, “I know I still have a lot to contribute to the team and international cricket and that the best way for me to do that is by concentrating more energy into my performances on the field.” Her knowledge and experience would surely help her team in getting an edge over Australia.



Sophie Devine:



Sophie Devine has played 78 T20I matches till date where she has scored more than 1500 runs as well as scalped 68 wickets till date. She has a wonderful year throughout, as her team Loughborough Lightning finished second in the KIA Super League; where she scored 269 runs in 11 matches with the SR of near 150 and became the second highest wicket-taker by picking up 16 wickets.



Recently she has played 2 matches for Western Australia in the Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL), where she scored 79 runs and bagged 2 wickets. She has the ability to squeeze the runs flow when required.



Megan Schutt:



No. 1 bowler in ICC T20I ranking and pace spearhead of Australia, Megan Schutt, is arguably one of the key players of her team. Her economical form is already a terror to many batters in both of the formats of the game. Keeping WHITE FERNS’ top-order in mind, her opening spell will play a vital role in the series.



She has 38 wickets in 35 T20Is by far. Her last appearance in T20I was against England; where she took 3 wickets and helped her team to win the title of Women’s T20 Tri-series earlier this year.
Subscribe