Pulford forced out of White Ferns due to virus

New Zealand's CLEAR White Ferns cricket side has lost the services of batsman Kate Pulford, nine days out from the opening game of the CricInfo Women's World Cup.

Pulford, 20, has been forced to withdraw from the 15-strong side with a viral complaint and is not expected to be able to take her place in the side for the tournament.

The New Zealand selection panel is considering its options at the moment. It is not vital to name a replacement as 14 players is the recommendation for teams in the tournament.

Pulford, a graduate of New Zealand's cricket academy at Lincoln University in 1999, made her international debut in the 1998/99 season against South Africa.

She played against Australia's Youth women's side at the start of the 1999/2000 season and then won selection in the New Zealand side for the Shell Rose Bowl. She returned home to play for New Zealand against England. She has played in nine One-Day Internationals in her career to date.