Durham sign NZ star Bates as first overseas player
Bates the 'perfect fit' for Durham
Bates has been one of the outstanding cricketers in the women's game since her made her New Zealand debut in 2006.She also represented her country at basketball in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing before cricket took centre stage.The right-hand batter was named Player of the Tournament in the 2013 World Cup and the ICC Women's ODI Cricketer of the Year that same year.Two years later, Bates was then named Wisden's Leading Women's Cricketer in the World.Then at the T20 World Cup in South Africa last year, she was the leading run-scorer in the tournament as the White Ferns claimed the title for the first time.Bates has previously played in England for Hampshire and Kent and she captained Oval Invincibles to success in The Hundred in 2022."This is an historic moment for Durham, and we are thrilled to welcome a player of Suzie's calibre to the club," said , externalDurham's director of cricket Marcus North."Her record internationally and domestically is second to none and with a wide range of experience across the globe she will be the perfect fit for our group going into the 2025 season."
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