Devine out, White Ferns eager to ruin Australia's streak

New Zealand Sophie Devine will miss the upcoming Rose Bowl ODI series, but the White Ferns have been bolstered by the return of fast bowler Lea Tahuhu as they aim to spoil Australia’s hopes of breaking a world record.

Devine didn’t play the final two T20Is against Australia due to fatigue and the decision has now been made for her to take a period of rest, with the allrounder to leave the White Ferns squad in Tauranga and return home.

It means Amy Satterthwaite will continue to lead the side as stand-in skipper, having guided the White Ferns to a gripping final-ball victory in the second T20I in Napier before the series decider in Auckland was washed out.

Australia are on a 21-game winning streak in ODIs, last tasting defeat in October 2017, and have an opportunity to surpass the record held by Ricky Ponting’s team of 2003.

They have not lost a one-day series to New Zealand since 1999.

Speaking on Saturday, Tahuhu, who missed the T20s due to a hamstring injury, said the chance to prevent Australia making history was an added incentive.

"It would be fantastic," Tahuhu said. "It’s always nice to mess up the Aussies’ plans and that’s what we’re looking to do tomorrow.

"The girls have got a lot of belief, not only from winning the second T20 but from how they competed in the first.

"It was great to see the way they went about their stuff and hopefully we can translate that into the one-dayers."

The last time the two sides met in the 50-over format, in October 2020, Australia claimed a record 232-run victory at Brisbane’s Allan Border Field, despite the absence of stars Ellyse Perry and Meg Lanning.

On that occasion, New Zealand were missing Tahuhu, and their all-time leading ODI run scorer, Suzie Bates.

Bates remains on the sidelines as she recovers from shoulder surgery, but the return of Tahuhu from a hamstring injury will add firepower to the New Zealand attack, a factor Australia coach Matthew Mott is wary of.

"She’s been a world-class bowler, she’s certainly on her day as intimidating as any bowler in the world," Mott said.

"She’s had good success against us and she provides a bit of star-factor for New Zealand.

"They draw on her a lot. When she comes out and sets the tone with the ball, they look a very intimidating team so I think she’s a bit add-in for them."

CommBank tour of New Zealand 2021

Australia ODI & T20I Squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Hannah Darlington, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Molly Strano, Georgia Wareham, Belinda Vakarewa, Tayla Vlaeminck

New Zealand ODI squad: Amy Satterthwaite (capt), Lauren Down, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Hayley Jensen, Leigh Kasperek, Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Frances Mackay, Rosemary Mair, Katey Martin (wk), Hannah Rowe, Lea Tahuhu

1st T20: Australia won by six wickets

2nd T20: New Zealand won by four wickets

3rd T20: Play abandoned due to rain

1st ODI: April 4, Bay Oval, Tauranga, 9am AEDT

2nd ODI: April 7, Bay Oval, Tauranga, 12noon AEDT

3rd ODI: April 10, Bay Oval, Tauranga, 12noon AEDT

All matches will be shown live in Australia on Fox Cricket and Kayo