Fran Jonas, Georgia Plimmer and Isabella Gaze included in New Zealand's U19 T20 World Cup squad

The New Zealand Women’s cricket team has selected Fran Jonas, Georgia Plimmer and Isabella Gaze in their squad for the upcoming U19 Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 that is scheduled to be played in South Africa from January 14 to 29. 

The three players have a combined experience of 46 international matches. Wicketkeeper-batter Isabella Gaze has played three One Day Internationals and 10 T20Is while the likes of left-arm spinner Fran Jonas (nine ODIs and 12 T20Is) and batter Georgia Plimmer (two ODIs and 10 T20Is) also have a decent amount of exposure at the international level.

Notably, all three were the members of the New Zealand squad that took part in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games finishing as the bronze medalists beating the hosts England in the losers’ final. Meanwhile, Jonas and Plimmer also played in the 2022 Women’s World Cup at home where the White Ferns failed to progress to the semis.

I think we've got a strong squad for this World Cup with a nice mix of youth and experience: NZC

"I think we've got a strong squad for this World Cup with a nice mix of youth and experience," McGlashan said. "For many of the players, this will be their first time travelling overseas to play cricket, so they'll certainly benefit from the experience of Fran, Georgia and Izzy, the natural leaders in this group,” an NZC release stated as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. The report also adds that “a captain would be named in due course”.

The Kiwis U19 squad would be coached by ex-New Zealand stumper Sara McGlashan and she will be assisted by former Auckland all-rounder Donovan Grobbelaar and ex-Kiwi leggie Tarun Nethula. After the inaugural edition of the U19 Women’s T20 World Cup, the White Ferns also have another chance to win a major ICC title during the Women’s T20 World Cup that is scheduled to be played in February.