New Zealand Women’s cricket update: Georgia Plimmer out with shoulder injury, Bella James named replacement for Zimbabwe ODI series.
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Georgia Plimmer Ruled Out
Look, I’ve seen this happen way too many in cricket. One minute you’re in the middle of a training session, feeling good about your game, and then—bam—you’re grabbing your shoulder and wondering what just happened.
That’s exactly what happened to Georgia Plimmer, and now she’s watching the ODI series against Zimbabwe from the sidelines.
New Zealand beat Zimbabwe 3-0 in the T20I series, but Plimmer picked up her shoulder injury during prep for that series and couldn’t feature in the last two matches. So now she’s out of the ODIs too, which start on March 5. Tough break.
Who’s Stepping Up?
Enter Bella James. She came in as cover before the third T20I and now she’s staying for the ODIs. James isn’t some fresh face either—she made her ODI debut against Australia in December 2024 and played two matches there.
Oh, and she was at the ODI World Cup last year. Didn’t get a game in the XI, sure, but she’s been around the block.
“Georgia is a key player for us at the top of the order and the energy she brings into the group is something we really value,” said head coach Ben Sawyer. “So it’s a shame to have her miss this next series.
Bella is a great cricketer who’s played nearly 100 List-A matches in her career so far. That experience is extremely valuable, and she’ll fit straight back into the side seamlessly.”
I love how Sawyer called out Plimmer’s energy there. That matters more than people think.
New Faces in the Mix
Two fresh names got the call-up: offspinner Nensi Patel and wicketkeeper-batter Izzy Sharp. Neither has played an ODI yet. But let’s be real—Nensi took five wickets in the T20Is against Zimbabwe. That’s not a fluke.
She earned her spot. Sharp also showed some handy lower-order batting—18 not out and 22 not out in the T20s. Not too shabby.
This is what you want, right? Injuries open doors for someone else to prove themselves.
The Squad Lineup
Amelia Kerr (capt), Isabella Gaze (wk), Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis, Bella James, Jess Kerr, Emma McLeod, Rosemary Mair, Nensi Patel, Molly Penfold, Izzy Sharp (wk)
Here’s the thing—these three ODIs are part of the 2025-2029 Women’s Championship cycle. Only Sri Lanka, South Africa, Pakistan, and the West Indies have kicked off their campaigns so far. New Zealand is next, and they’re walking into this series with a slightly reshuffled deck.
What does that tell us? Even when injuries hit, depth matters. You’ve got to have players ready to step in and not just fill space but actually contribute. Whether James, Patel, or Sharp can do that remains to be seen, but they’ve got their chance now.
Quiz Time!
1. How many T20Is did New Zealand win against Zimbabwe?
- A) 2
- B) 3
- C) 4
- D) 1
2. How many List-A matches has Bella James played in her career?
- A) Nearly 50
- B) Nearly 100
- C) Over 150
- D) Less than 30
3. Which uncapped player took five wickets in the T20Is against Zimbabwe?
- A) Izzy Sharp
- B) Bella James
- C) Nensi Patel
- D) Molly Penfold