Defending champions New Zealand have lost both opening matches at this World Cup and sit fifth in Group 2 on a net run rate of -0.200. One structural fact behind the slump has gone largely unspoken: the opening role Suzie Bates owned for two decades hasn’t been filled by her replacement, and the top order has collapsed in both defeats. New Zealand has three must-win matches left. Bringing the retiring great back isn’t sentiment. It’s the most straightforward fix available, and the clock is running.
New Zealand’s Top Order Has Collapsed Twice
The two defeats share a pattern: an early failure forcing a rescue act from the middle order. Against West Indies, Plimmer and Kerr fell cheaply in the powerplay before Gaze (39 off 29) and Halliday (40) hauled New Zealand to 162/6, still seven short as Campbelle’s unbeaten 90 won it by seven wickets.
Against Sri Lanka, the failure flipped. Gaze was gone with the score on 4 inside the first over, and fifties from Kerr and Devine (45 each) got New Zealand to 150/6, a total Silva’s unbeaten 54 chased down by five wickets.
Match | Top-Order Wickets Lost Early | Result |
vs West Indies (Jun 13) | Plimmer, Kerr in powerplay | Lost by 7 wkts |
vs Sri Lanka (Jun 16) | Gaze out at 4/1, 0.3 overs | Lost by 5 wkts |
Suzie Bates Women’s T20 World Cup 2026
Bates, the all-time leading run-scorer in women’s T20Is with 4,717 runs, announced in April that this World Cup would be her last after a 20-year, 362-cap career. She is in the squad in England but hasn’t featured in either match, the first time New Zealand have played a Women’s T20 World Cup match without her.
New Zealand sits fifth in Group 2 on zero points, level with Ireland as the only team without a win. Three matches remain: Ireland on June 19, Scotland on June 23, and England on June 27. Each is now a must-win.
What Gaze’s Numbers Actually Show
Gaze was promoted to open since February to add powerplay pace. Her 2026 strike rate of 131.11 across 13 matches as an opener sits above her career T20I rate of 119.06 and well above Bates’ career rate of 108.35. The selection logic is sound on paper, and the coaching staff is committed to it fully ahead of this tournament.
It hasn’t produced the platform New Zealand needed in either defeat. One useful score and one near-blank in two matches isn’t enough for a defending champion needing totals of 170-plus to win at this level. Strike rate means nothing if the top order isn’t giving the middle order something to build from.
Why Bates Hasn’t Featured
This isn’t poor form keeping Bates out. Back from a quadriceps injury, she batted at No. 8 or lower through the home series against South Africa in March, scoring 1 in her only innings. The pre-tournament tour of England followed the same pattern: one innings across three T20Is, opening at Hove for 3 after being held at No. 8 in Derby.
Her farewell ODI brought an unbeaten 12 as that series finished 1-1. The coaching staff prioritised Gaze’s strike rate at the top, and Bates hasn’t had the opportunity to build form of her own going into a tournament she announced would be her last. The preparation has been disrupted, but she’s available, and she’s fit.
The Call Sawyer Has to Make
Coach Ben Sawyer explained the thinking: “We’re pushing the team to make scores of 170-180 to help win matches, so we promoted Izzy up to open since February to help generate a high strike rate in the powerplay.” That logic still holds against Ireland, Scotland, and England. What it doesn’t account for is the calm the top three have lacked across both matches, and the fact that New Zealand cannot afford another collapse.
Restoring Bates sacrifices some powerplay intent for the settled platform-building New Zealand hasn’t managed without her. The Suzie Bates Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 story has one chapter still to write, and New Zealand’s survival in this tournament may depend on whether Sawyer decides to write it before it’s too late.
Do you think New Zealand should bring Suzie Bates back into the XI for the must-win Ireland clash? Drop your take in the comments.
FAQs
Is Suzie Bates playing at the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026?
Bates is in New Zealand’s squad but has been left out of the XI for both matches against West Indies and Sri Lanka. It marks the first time New Zealand has played a Women’s T20 World Cup match without her.
How many runs has Suzie Bates scored in women’s T20Is?
Bates is the all-time leading run-scorer in women’s T20 internationals with 4,717 runs across a 20-year, 362-cap career. She announced before the tournament that this World Cup would be her last.
Can New Zealand still qualify for the semifinals?
Mathematically, yes, but only by winning all three remaining matches against Ireland, Scotland, and England. They would also need other Group 2 results to fall their way.
Why has New Zealand struggled at the top of the order?
Coach Ben Sawyer promoted Izzy Gaze to open since February to target a higher powerplay strike rate, but it has produced two top-order collapses across New Zealand’s opening defeats. Gaze scored 39 against the West Indies but was out with the score on 4 against Sri Lanka.
Who is New Zealand’s opening batter at this World Cup?
Izzy Gaze has opened in both matches, promoted ahead of Bates to boost powerplay scoring. Her 2026 strike rate as an opener stands at 131.11 across 13 matches.
Disclaimer: This blog post reflects the author’s personal insights and analysis. Readers are encouraged to consider the perspectives shared and draw their own conclusions.