Farewell Grandma: New Zealand great Suzie Bates to retire after Women’s T20 World Cup
New Zealand legend Suzie Bates is set to bring down the curtain on her illustrious international career after announcing her retirement following the Women’s T20 World Cup, scheduled from June 12 to July 5 later this year. She currently has 10,681 international runs, just 188 short of Mithali Raj’s all-time women’s record.
Bates, one of the Grandmas of the White Ferns alongside Sophie Devine and Lea Tahuhu, played a crucial role in New Zealand’s maiden Women’s T20 World Cup triumph in 2024. She also stands as the all-time leading run-scorer in T20Is across both men’s and women’s cricket.
Making her international debut in 2006, Bates is preparing to close out a remarkable 20-year career. However, she remains focused on one final mission, helping New Zealand defend their T20 World Cup title in the UK before signing off.
“When I look back on the past twenty-plus years, I can’t quite believe how quickly the time has gone. I’m immensely proud to have worn the fern so many times, and I’ve been filled with enormous purpose and joy in striving each day to be a better person, teammate, cricketer, and athlete for this team,” Bates said.
“Words can’t truly express my gratitude to all my teammates and coaches along the way. I have one final mission: to head to the UK – a place that holds so many special memories for me – and win another World Cup,” Bates added.
SUZIE BATES’ GLORIOUS CAREER
Suzie Bates, a right-handed opener from Dunedin, made her domestic debut at 15 in 2003 and her international debut in 2006, going on to become one of the greatest players in women’s cricket. A gifted all-round sportsperson, she also represented New Zealand basketball at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Bates is the all-time leading run-scorer in Women’s T20Is and among the top ODI run-getters, becoming the first woman to play 350 international matches and surpass 25,000 career runs.
She captained New Zealand from 2011 for nearly seven years and led them to multiple ICC finals. Her decorated career includes major ICC awards in 2013 and 2016, along with Wisden’s recognition in 2015 as the world’s leading women’s cricketer.
In total, she captained the White Ferns in 151 matches, scoring 4717 T20I runs and 5964 ODI runs, while also contributing 145 international wickets and holding fielding records with 93 ODI and 96 T20I catches. A 2013 World Cup Player of the Tournament, she also won Commonwealth Games bronze in 2022 and the T20 World Cup in 2024.
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