New Zealand all-rounder Suzie Bates has announced she will retire from international cricket following the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup, ending a storied 20-year career. The 38-year-old will be part of the White Ferns' squad for the tournament in England, scheduled from June 12 to July 5, and will also face the hosts in a series of ODIs and T20Is next month.
Bates, a right-handed opener, holds the record for most runs in women's T20 internationals with 4,717, ranks fourth in ODI run-scoring, and has taken 145 wickets while setting a record for catches. She debuted against India in 2006, captained New Zealand from 2011 to 2018, and led the team in 151 matches.
"When I look back on the past 20-plus years, I can't quite believe how quickly the time has gone," Bates said. "I'm immensely proud to have worn the fern so many times... I have one final mission: to head to the UK and win another World Cup."
Current captain Melie Kerr called Bates her "role model" and "one of the greatest cricketers of all time," adding, "She's paved the way for a long time in women's cricket."
Bates was named Wisden's leading female player in 2015 and was ICC Women's ODI Cricketer of the Year in 2013 and 2016. She also represented New Zealand in basketball at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.