Suzie Bates to Retire After ICC Women’s T20 World Cup

AUCKLAND: New Zealand all-rounder Suzie Bates has announced that she will retire from international cricket following this year’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England, bringing the curtain down on a career spanning more than two decades.

According to reports, Bates is set to be named in New Zealand’s 15-member World Cup squad at a ceremony at her former school, Otago Girls’ High School, next week. She will also feature in the upcoming ODI and T20 series against England in early May, with New Zealand entering the tournament as defending champions.

In her statement, Bates said it was hard to believe how quickly her career had passed, adding that representing her country had been a matter of immense pride. She noted that her final goal is to help New Zealand secure another World Cup title.

Bates made her domestic debut in 2003 at just 15 and earned her international cap in 2006. She currently holds the record as the highest run-scorer in Women’s T20 Internationals, with 4,717 runs, and ranks fourth in ODIs with 5,964 runs.

She was appointed captain in 2011 and led the national side for nearly seven years. In 2016, Wisden named her the world’s leading women’s cricketer.

Beyond cricket, Bates also represented New Zealand in basketball and competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Current captain Amelia Kerr praised Bates as one of the greatest players in the game, highlighting her contributions both on and off the field.

Officials from New Zealand Cricket said Bates played a key role in the global growth of women’s cricket, and her legacy will be remembered for years to come.