New Zealand batting stalwart Suzie Bates has announced she will step away from international cricket after this year’s Women’s T20 World Cup, scheduled in England in June and July. The decision brings the curtain down on a remarkable 20-year-plus career at the top level, starting in March 2006 when she debuted in an ODI against India at Lincoln.
Key takeaways
- Suzie Bates plans to retire from international cricket after the Women’s T20 World Cup in England in June-July.
- Her international journey begins in March 2006 with an ODI against India at Lincoln.
- Bates ends as New Zealand’s leading ODI run-scorer with 5,964 runs, and holds the highest T20I tally in the world with 4,717.
- She becomes the first woman cricketer to play 350 international matches and reach 25,000 career runs across international and domestic cricket.
- Bates helped New Zealand win the Women’s T20 World Cup in 2024 and is aiming to add another title later this year.
A final tournament before an illustrious exit
Looking back on more than two decades in the game, Bates said she still finds it hard to believe how quickly time has passed. She expressed deep pride in wearing the national “fern” jersey repeatedly and described a career driven by purpose—both in her growth as a person and in her daily effort to improve as a teammate, cricketer, and athlete.
She also underlined the role of gratitude, thanking teammates and coaches who supported her along the way. Bates added that her focus now is on one last assignment in the United Kingdom, a country filled with meaningful memories for her, where she wants to finish the international chapter by delivering another World Cup triumph.
Records, awards and leadership across two decades
Bates’ achievement list spans major milestones and individual honours. She has 5,964 ODI runs, making her New Zealand’s leading scorer in the format. In T20 internationals, she has 4,717 runs—an unmatched total worldwide among batters at present.
Her international record also includes being the first female player to reach 350 matches and the first to compile 25,000 career runs when combining international and domestic cricket. Leadership duties came naturally as well: she captained New Zealand for seven years starting in July 2011.
In 2013, Bates was named the ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year. She later added more silverware to her resumé by winning the ICC Women’s ODI and T20I Cricketer of the Year titles in 2016, cementing her status as one of the defining figures of the women’s game.
Sporting life beyond cricket and tributes from teammates
While most of the spotlight has been on her cricket achievements, Bates also represented New Zealand in basketball at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, showing an athletic versatility that extended beyond the boundary.
New Zealand captain Melie Kerr hailed Bates as one of the greatest cricketers in history. Kerr said Bates was her role model growing up and that she was fortunate to join the squad while Bates was captain. Kerr also praised Bates’ character, describing her as selfless, a standout teammate, and someone whose record shows how much she has contributed to women’s cricket and paved the way for future progress.
Kerr added that although Bates will be missed, she believes there is “a bit more left in the tank,” pointing to the possibility of continued impact through the remaining international schedule.
New Zealand Cricket’s Head of Women’s High Performance Development Liz Green echoed the admiration, saying it is difficult to find words for a player like Bates. Green noted that the women’s game has advanced to where it is today because of contributors of Bates’ calibre. She highlighted that Bates’ greatness is not limited to on-field performances, but also includes who she is as a teammate and role model away from the pitch.
Green concluded that Bates will leave a lasting legacy and continue to inspire the next generation for years to come—an imprint Green described as truly special.
