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Bermingham, Kasperek back in NZ women's squads

Offspinner Morna Nielsen, pacer Hannah Rowe and batsman Samantha Curtis, who were in the squad for the home series against Pakistan, have been left out

Leigh Kasperek had been sidelined from the tour of South Africa and the home series against Pakistan after fracturing her finger  •  IDI/Getty Images

Leigh Kasperek had been sidelined from the tour of South Africa and the home series against Pakistan after fracturing her finger  •  IDI/Getty Images

Legspinner Erin Bermingham and offspinner Leigh Kasperek have returned to the New Zealand women's limited-overs squads for the upcoming home and away series against Australia women, after recovering from their injuries. Maddy Green, who missed the home series against Pakistan women in November, has also been included for the ODIs and T20 internationals.
Bermingham had missed the series against Pakistan due to a fractured thumb, while a fracture of the right index finger in October had sidelined Kasperek for eight weeks.
Offspinner Morna Nielsen, pacer Hannah Rowe and batsman Samantha Curtis, who were in the squad for the Pakistan series, have been left out, although coach Haidee Tiffen stated that all three players will remain in contention for spots in the Women's World Cup squad. New Zealand have already confirmed their place in the competition, which will be held in June-July in England.
Tiffen said hard choices had to be made while selecting the squads, highlighting the depth and competition for spots in the side. She said the selections were based on the performance of the players in New Zealand's own domestic tournaments and the Women's Big Bash League, which featured players like Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine, Amy Satterthwaite, Lea Tahuhu and Rachel Priest.
"Good players have missed out because the competition for spots in our world-class side is now more intense than ever," Tiffen said. "We have improved depth, so we have hard choices to make - and that is exactly the situation we want to be in building up to the ICC Women's World Cup 2017.
"We have seen some very special performances - from Amy Satterthwaite's hat-trick to Sophie Devine's fastest century, and it's been an added bonus for us having two White Ferns in Suzie Bates and Rachel Priest captaining WBBL teams in high-intensity T20 cricket.
"I've watched every single delivery of the WBBL and it's been a timely insight. It has provided a litmus test for a number of our players against Australia's top cricketers whom we will be facing very soon in both the T20 and one-day international formats."
New Zealand will travel to Australia for three T20Is, which will be played between February 17 and 22 in Melbourne, South Geelong and Adelaide. Australia will then visit New Zealand for three ODIs, which will be played in Mount Maunganui between February 26 and March 5.
New Zealand women's ODI squad: Suzie Bates (capt), Erin Bermingham, Sophie Devine, Maddy Green, Holly Huddleston, Leigh Kasperek, Amelia Kerr, Katey Martin, Thamsyn Newton, Katie Perkins, Liz Perry, Rachel Priest, Amy Satterthwaite, Lea Tahuhu
New Zealand women's T20I squad: Suzie Bates (capt), Erin Bermingham, Sophie Devine, Maddy Green, Holly Huddleston, Leigh Kasperek, Katey Martin, Thamsyn Newton, Katie Perkins, Liz Perry, Rachel Priest, Amy Satterthwaite, Lea Tahuhu