Sophie Devine suffered a dislocated thumb while playing for the Adelaide Strikers in the Women’s Big Bash League © Getty Images
New Zealand allrounder Sophie Devine has been ruled out of the upcoming home and away limited-overs series against Australia due to a dislocated thumb. Devine, who suffered the injury during the recent Women’s Big Bash League, managed to avoid surgery, but her hand will be in a splint for four to six weeks in order for her to fully recover before the Women’s World Cup in England later this year.
Northern Districts allrounder Anna Peterson has replaced Devine in the T20 squad that will travel to Australia, while Sam Curtis has taken her place for the ODIs at home.
“Sam was unlucky to have missed out on the initial squad and is now coming off a match-winning unbeaten 111 off just 72 balls in the SKYCITY Hamilton NPL (Northern Premier League) on the weekend — the best innings I have seen her play,” head coach Haidee Tiffen said.
“The way she combatted the threat of Holly Huddleston was a great sign of a player hitting her best form. Sam will bring her strength to our ODI middle order, while Anna Peterson’s versatility sees her get the nod for the Twenty20 squad.”
In the same match that Curtis struck that century, Peterson took three wickets for 11 in four overs, apart from claiming a catch and effecting a run-out. Peterson has also been among the top six in both the batting and bowling charts in the domestic women’s Twenty20 competition, where she plays for Auckland. She last played for New Zealand in last year’s Women’s World T20.
“Since her WHITE FERNS appearances last season, Anna has taken our feedback on board and worked on everything we have been looking for from her, as well as adding a further string to her bow by accepting the challenge of opening the batting for the Auckland Hearts,” Tiffen said.
“That’s been tremendous to see and she has been performing well as an attacking batsman. Like Sam, she is also a strong fielder, important assets in the white ball format.”
New Zealand travel to Australia to play three T20Is, starting on February 17, before the teams move back to New Zealand for a three-match ODI series that begins on February 26.
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo