Auckland Cricket will have a significant presence across New Zealand’s upcoming tour of England, with five Auckland Hearts players named in the White Ferns ODI squad, with four also featuring in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup squad later in the tour.

Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing and Molly Penfold have all been selected for the three-match ODI series in England and Wales, underlining the depth and quality of Auckland’s domestic programme.

The quintet will play a key role in the White Ferns’ ODI campaign, with Gaze continuing to build as a reliable wicketkeeper-batter, Green offering experience and leadership through the middle order, and Halliday’s all-round skillset providing valuable balance. Illing’s inclusion reflects her rapid rise as a left-arm pace option, while Penfold returns to the international environment, adding further strength to the seam attack.

Gaze, Green, Halliday and Illing also feature in the White Ferns squad for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup, where the defending champion Ferns seeking to defend their title won in 2024. This group will play a three match T20I series against England in the lead up to the World Cup.

Their selection across both formats highlights the strength of the Auckland pathway, with the Hearts continuing to produce players capable of performing on the international stage. The overlap between the ODI squad and the T20 World Cup group also ensures a strong Auckland influence throughout the entire England tour.

The ODI series begins in Durham on May 10, followed by matches in Northampton and Cardiff, before the squad transitions into the T20 leg in late May and World Cup campaign in June.
 

WHITE FERNS vs. ENGLAND ODI Tour (NZT)

1st ODI - Sunday 10 May 10.00pm - Durham

2nd ODI - Thursday 14 May 12.00am - Northampton

3rd ODI - Saturday 16 May 10.00pm - Cardiff

WHITE FERNS vs. ENGLAND T20I Tour (NZT)

1st T20I - Thursday 21 May 1:30am - Durham

2nd T20I - Sunday 24 May 1:30am - Cardiff

3rd T20I - Tuesday 26 May 1:30am - Hove

WHITE FERNS T20 World Cup Schedule - Group 2 (NZT)

Match 1 v West Indies - Sunday 14 June 5.30am - Southampton

Match 2 v Sri Lanka - Wednesday 17 June 1.30am - Southampton

Match 3 v Ireland - Saturday 20 June 5.30am - Southampton

Match 4 v Scotland - Tuesday 23 June 9.30pm - Bristol

Match 5 v England - Sunday 28 June 5.30am - The Oval

More info: https://www.nzc.nz/

Article added: Thursday 30 April 2026