Sophie Devine Prepares New Zealand Team for UAE Challenges in ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024

New Zealand Women's captain, Sophie Devine, outlines strategies to adapt to the hot, spin-friendly conditions in the UAE for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024. New Zealand will focus on scoring rates and spin bowling, starting their campaign against India on 4 October in Dubai.

New Zealand Women's skipper, Sophie Devine, shared how her team plans to excel in the challenging conditions of the UAE during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024. The UAE's hot, spinner-friendly environment contrasts sharply with New Zealand's seam-friendly conditions. Devine emphasized that adaptation strategies are in full swing. 'We have been specific and clear with how we want to play and what we think is going to work in those conditions. We reflected and reviewed how we'd played and adapted to what the conditions are like,' Devine said, as quoted by the ICC.

Devine also stressed the importance of maintaining high scoring rates and spin focus to gain an advantage. 'There's been a real focus on spin bowling, which I'm sure everyone is going to focus on, but for us, it's about strike rate and scoring shot percentages. We want to be really busy at the crease as every run will be crucial in these tough conditions. On the flip side, with the ball, we aim for pinpoint accuracy to make opposition players take the most challenging shots,' she added.

Looking ahead to their group matches, Devine expressed excitement about facing tough competitors. 'With India, Australia, and Sri Lanka in our pool, progressing will be challenging, but we are confident about our chances against these top-tier teams,' she concluded.

New Zealand will kick off their campaign against India on 4 October in Dubai, followed by a match-up against Australia on 8 October in Sharjah. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)