Tahuhu returns to face Australia in NZ

New Zealand welcome back veteran seamer Lea Tahuhu for their one-day international series against world No.1 Australia.

Tahuhu suffered a hamstring injury in the first ODI against England last month which ruled her out of the remainder of the series and the three-match T20 series that followed.

The 30-year-old will miss the preceding the T20 series against Australia and play only the ODI series, starting April 4 with all three matches to be played at Bay Oval in Tauranga.

The T20 series against Australia starts on March 28 in Hamilton, with all three matches to be played as double-headers with the Black Caps.

Fresh off making their international debuts against England, allrounder Brooke Halliday and 16-year-old spinner Fran Jonas have been named to face Australia. 

Halliday scored 50 and 60 in her first two outings for the White Ferns, while Jonas impressed in her two ODIs.

New Zealand will be out for revenge having lost both the one-day and T20 series to Australia in Brisbane at the start of the summer.

"We're up for the challenge against Australia," said White Ferns coach Bob Carter.

"To be the best, you have to beat the best and we know we're going to have to be at the very top of our game.

"Brooke and Fran have come in and impressed everyone.

"Brooke's performances first-up against England showed she's got what it takes and we're excited to give her more opportunities at this level.

"Fran has fitted in extremely well and shown a real willingness to learn and grow as a cricketer - her youthful exuberance is infectious."

The tour serves as perfect preparation for next year's 50-over World Cup in New Zealand, which was pushed back 12 months due to the pandemic.

Gun allrounder Sophie Devine will captain the White Ferns and spend time with the Black Caps in the lead up to the series against Australia ahead of her 100th T20 for New Zealand.

"It's a great opportunity to see how the Black Caps inner sanctum go about their work," said Devine.

"As a team they've managed a sustained period of success, so any little insights I can glean and take back to the White Ferns camp will be invaluable.

"I've also done short stints with the Silver Ferns and Black Ferns over the past few months with an eye to developing our own team environment.

"The chance to connect with other elite female athletes is important for our own learning and growth. Both the Silver Ferns and Black Ferns are world champions in their respective codes, so to experience those team environments has been great."

T20I squad: Sophie Devine (capt), Amy Satterthwaite (vice-capt), Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Hayley Jensen, Fran Jonas, Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Frances Mackay, Katey Martin (wk), Thamsyn Newton, Hannah Rowe

ODI squad: Sophie Devine (capt), Amy Satterthwaite (vice-capt), Lauren Down, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Hayley Jensen, Leigh Kasperek - (games 2 & 3 only), Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Frances Mackay, Rosemary Mair, Katey Martin (wk), Hannah Rowe (game 1 only), Lea Tahuhu

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

NZ T20I squad: Sophie Devine (capt), Amy Satterthwaite (vice-capt), Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Hayley Jensen, Fran Jonas, Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Frances Mackay, Katey Martin (wk), Thamsyn Newton, Hannah Rowe

NZ ODI squad: Sophie Devine (capt), Amy Satterthwaite (vice-capt), Lauren Down, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Hayley Jensen, Leigh Kasperek - (games two & three only), Amelia Kerr, Jess Kerr, Frances Mackay, Rosemary Mair, Katey Martin (wk), Hannah Rowe (game one only), Lea Tahuhu

1st T20: March 28, Seddon Park, Hamilton, 5.10pm AEDT

2nd T20: March 30, McLean Park, Napier, 1pm AEDT

3rd T20: April 1, Eden Park, Auckland, 1pm AEDT

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