New Zealand lost left-arm spinner Flora Devonshire to a hand laceration suffered in a training session before the Women's World Cup tournament. The 24-year-old allrounder needed two to three weeks to recover from the injury, and coach Ben Sawyer called up pace bowler Hannah Rowe as a replacement. Rowe brings 60 one-day internationals of experience to her third World Cup appearance, but she offers different skills than Devonshire.
The White Ferns face South Africa on Oct. 6 in their second match after Australia defeated them by 89 runs on Wednesday. Captain Sophie Devine scored 112 runs in the opening loss, but Annabel Sutherland and Sophie Molineux each took three wickets to secure the defending champions' victory. Rowe joins the squad on Oct. 7 in Indore before traveling to Guwahati for subsequent matches.
Devonshire earned her first World Cup selection before the injury ended her tournament. Sawyer expressed disappointment about losing depth in spin-friendly conditions, but he praised Rowe's versatility and familiarity with subcontinental playing surfaces.
The White Ferns face South Africa on Oct. 6 in their second match after Australia defeated them by 89 runs on Wednesday. Captain Sophie Devine scored 112 runs in the opening loss, but Annabel Sutherland and Sophie Molineux each took three wickets to secure the defending champions' victory. Rowe joins the squad on Oct. 7 in Indore before traveling to Guwahati for subsequent matches.
Devonshire earned her first World Cup selection before the injury ended her tournament. Sawyer expressed disappointment about losing depth in spin-friendly conditions, but he praised Rowe's versatility and familiarity with subcontinental playing surfaces.
