New Zealand legend Suzie Bates is set to bring down the curtain on her illustrious international career after announcing her retirement after the Women’s T20 World Cup, scheduled from June 12 to July 5 later this year. She currently has 10,681 international runs, just 188 short of Mithali Raj’s all-time women’s record.
Bates, one of the grandmothers of the White Ferns alongside Sophie Devine and Lea Tahuhu, she played a key role in New Zealand’s first women’s T20 World Cup triumph in 2024. She is also the all-time leading run-scorer in T20Is in both men’s and women’s cricket.
Bates, who made her international debut in 2006, is preparing to close out a remarkable 20-year career. However, he remains focused on one final mission, helping New Zealand defend their T20 World Cup title in the UK, before calling it quits.
“When I look back over the past twenty-plus years, I can’t quite believe how quickly the time has flown by. I’m extremely proud to have worn the Fern so many times and it fills me with immense purpose and joy in trying to be a better person, team-mate, cricketer and athlete for this team every day,” said Bates.
“Words cannot truly express my gratitude to all my teammates and coaches along the way. I have one final mission: to head to the UK – a place that holds so many special memories for me – and win another World Cup,” added Bates.
THE GLORIOUS CAREER OF SUZIE BATESE
Suzie Bates, a right-hander from Dunedin, made her domestic debut at the age of 15 in 2003 and her international debut in 2006 established her as one of the greatest players in women’s cricket. A gifted all-rounder, she also represented New Zealand basketball at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Bates is the all-time leading run-scorer in Women’s T20Is and among the top run-getters in ODIs, becoming the first woman to play 350 international matches and surpass 25,000 runs in a career.
She captained New Zealand for almost seven years from 2011 and led them to several ICC finals. Her decorated career includes major ICC awards in 2013 and 2016, along with being recognized by Wisden in 2015 as the world’s leading female cricketer.
In total, she captained the White Ferns in 151 matches, scoring 4717 T20I runs and 5964 ODI runs, while contributing 145 international wickets and holds fielding records with 93 ODI catches and 96 T20I catches. A 2013 World Cup player in the tournament, she also won bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the 2024 T20 World Cup.
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
24 Apr 2026 04:00 IST
