New Zealand : Suzie Bates will bring the curtain down on a glittering international career after the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup, New Zealand Cricket said on Friday.
The 38-year-old all-rounder, one of the most decorated players in the women’s game, confirmed she will retire after the Women’s T20 World Cup in England, ending a career spanning more than two decades with the White Ferns.
“If I look back on the past 20-plus years, I can’t quite believe how quickly the time has gone,” Bates said. “I’m immensely proud to have worn the fern so many times.”
Bates, who hopes to sign off with a second successive T20 World Cup title after New Zealand’s triumph in 2024, holds a host of records, including being the most capped player in women’s internationals with 362 appearances.
She is also the first woman to surpass 25,000 international runs and remains the leading run-scorer in women’s T20 internationals, while holding records for most catches in both ODIs and T20Is.
A former captain, Bates led New Zealand in 151 matches after taking over the role in 2011, having made her international debut in 2006 following her domestic breakthrough with Otago as a teenager.
“She really is one of the greatest cricketers of all time,” current captain Amelia Kerr said. “Her record speaks for itself, and she’s been a role model for so many.”
A gifted multi-sport athlete, Bates also represented New Zealand in basketball at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
The Women’s T20 World Cup begins on June 12, where Bates will have one final opportunity to add to her legacy.
