Three newcomers in New Zealand Twenty20 squad

New Zealand have included three new faces in their 14-member squad for the women's World Twenty20 in June. Left-arm-spinner Saskia Bullen, wicketkeeper Victoria Lind and left-arm fast bowler Sian Ruck are the players who weren't part of the squad that reached the World Cup final in Australia earlier this year.

Coach Gary Stead said Bullen, 25, will give the team extra bowling options. "Given that we have two offspinners, we feel Saskia will add balance to the side," he said. "She's a very accurate bowler which she showed in State League and Twenty20 performances this year."

Twenty-three year-old Lind is a hard-hitting batsman and will also be a back-up to regular wicketkeeper Rachel Priest. "She's had a successful season with the (Auckland) Hearts," Stead said, "and we'll be looking to her to make an impact at the start of the innings."

Stead also said that Wellington medium-pacer Ruck would provide variety to the New Zealand attack. "We saw only one other left-arm seam bowler at the World Cup in Australia, so Sian will give us a point of difference. She's a quality bowler and has worked hard to get into the side."

The trio take the place of World Cup squad members Haidee Tiffen, who retired earlier this month, Beth McNeill, who is unavailable, and Abby Burrows

The squad leaves New Zealand at the end of May, travelling first to Brisbane where they will play three Twenty20 games against Australia. They then head to England on June 4 and will be based in Taunton. Their first match is against Australia on June 12.

New Zealand squad: Aimee Watkins (capt), Amy Satterthwaite, Suzie Bates, Nicola Browne, Saskia Bullen, Sophie Devine, Lucy Doolan, Victoria Lind, Katey Martin, Sara McGlashan, Rachel Priest (wk), Kate Pulford, Sian Ruck, Sarah Tsukigawa