Born in Dunedin, Otago, Suzie Bates is a veteran allrounder of both ODI and T20 for New Zealand having played over 250 international matches. Suzie is also a dual international having also represented New Zealand at basketball at the Olympic Games in 2008.
Batting right handed and bowling right-arm medium pace, Suzie made her debut for Otago in 2002/3 and still plays for that team some 18 years later. In between times she’s also represented Western Australia, Perth Scorchers, Adelaide Strikers, Kent, Hampshire and the Southern Vipers. In 2022 she signed to play with the Sydney Sixers the in the WBBL.
International honours with the White Ferns came in 2005/06 in an ODI against India at Lincoln. She took 1-20 from four overs and didn’t get a bat. That changes over her career and now has over 5,000 runs in the format. She is the highest run score for New Zealand in ODIs and as of September 2022 is currently fourth overall. A high score of 168 is just one of her twelve centuries in the format. In that time she’s also taken 75 wickets with a best of 4-7.
Women’s T20 Internationals just would be the same without Suzie Bates in the mix. She has made over with 3000 runs and is the highest run scorer in the format.Her highest score of 124 not out cam against South Africa at Taunton in 2018. She also has 50 wickets in the format and has played in all seven T20 World Cups.
In 2016 she became become the first cricketer to clinch both the ICC Women’s ODI and T20I Player of the Year awards.