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Key Points

New Zealand's Women's World Cup campaign has hit an early hurdle with Flora Devonshire ruled out due to a hand injury. The left-arm spinner cut her hand during training and will miss 2-3 weeks of the tournament. Experienced all-rounder Hannah Rowe has been called up as her replacement, bringing 60 ODI caps to her third World Cup. This setback comes just before New Zealand's crucial match against South Africa, affecting the team's balance in spin-friendly conditions.

Key Points: Flora Devonshire Ruled Out of New Zealand World Cup Squad

  • Devonshire sustained hand laceration during training session sidelining her 2-3 weeks
  • Hannah Rowe brings 60 ODI caps experience to third World Cup
  • Coach Sawyer emphasizes Rowe adds depth despite not being like-for-like replacement
  • Injury comes before crucial South Africa match affecting team balance
2 min read

Women's World Cup: Devonshire ruled out of New Zealand squad with finger injury

New Zealand's Flora Devonshire out of Women's World Cup with hand injury, replaced by experienced Hannah Rowe in White Ferns squad setback.

"We're all feeling for Flora. She worked hard to earn her spot in this squad and it's a real shame her tournament is ending early. - Ben Sawyer"

Guwahati, Oct 4

New Zealand have been dealt with an early setback in their Women’s World Cup campaign, with left-arm off-spinning allrounder Flora Devonshire ruled out of the tournament due to a hand injury.

Devonshire, who had earned her maiden World Cup call-up, sustained a laceration to her left hand while fielding during a training session and is expected to be sidelined for two to three weeks.

In her place, right-arm pace-bowling allrounder Hannah Rowe has been drafted into the squad. Rowe, a seasoned cricketer with 60 ODI caps, will be attending her third one-day World Cup, bringing valuable experience to the White Ferns setup.

Confirming the development, head coach Ben Sawyer voiced his disappointment at losing Devonshire so early in the tournament. “We’re all feeling for Flora,” he said. “She worked hard to earn her spot in this squad and it’s a real shame her tournament is ending early.”

Sawyer, however, emphasised that including Rowe would bring more depth and experience to the squad. “We’re pleased to be able to call up a senior player in Hannah Rowe,” he said. “Hannah’s obviously not a like-for-like replacement for Flora, but she offers an all-round skillset and has experience in sub-continent conditions.”

Rowe is scheduled to join the team on October 7 in Indore before travelling with the squad to Guwahati for the next leg of the tournament.

The injury comes at a critical time for the White Ferns, who are gearing up to face South Africa in their second ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 match on October 6. Devonshire’s absence will be a setback for New Zealand’s balance, as the 24-year-old was seen as a promising option with both bat and ball in spin-friendly conditions.

The Sophie Devine-led side started their campaign with a defeat against defending champions Australia on Wednesday. Annabel Sutherland and Sophie Molineux's three-wicket haul overpowered the Kiwi skipper's run-a-ball 112 as the Alyssa Healy-led side kicked off their title defence with an 89-run win.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Injuries are part of sports but timing couldn't be worse. New Zealand really needed her spin bowling in Indian conditions. Rowe is a good player but different style. Hope the team adjusts quickly!
A
Aditya G
Hannah Rowe with 60 ODI caps is actually a blessing in disguise. She knows how to handle pressure in big tournaments. Sometimes experienced players make more impact than newcomers. All the best to both players! 🇳🇿
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Sarah B
As someone who follows women's cricket closely, I think this is a significant blow. Devonshire's left-arm spin would have been perfect for Indian pitches. Rowe is a good player but the team balance changes completely.
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Meera T
So sad for Flora! She must be devastated after working so hard. But that's cricket - unpredictable. Hope she comes back stronger. Meanwhile, welcome to India Hannah Rowe! 🇮🇳 Hope you enjoy our hospitality and perform well.
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Karthik V
Honestly, the team management should have been more careful during training sessions. These injuries in practice can be avoided with better planning. Hope they learn from this for future tournaments.

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