Sophie Devine to Make Season Debut, Bracewell and Snedden in for Firebirds

WHITE FERN Sophie Devine will make her season debut for the Blaze tomorrow, marking her return to the Super Smash after missing the first three rounds due to workload management.

Devine’s return will be a welcome addition to the Blaze, who will be without mainstay all-rounder Leigh Kasperek due to a thumb injury which she sustained during the last game.

With three wins from three games to start their competition, the Blaze are in a good spot heading into tomorrow’s Round 4 clash at the Cello Basin Reserve.

The Otago Sparks will provide a tough challenge, currently atop the HBJ Shield standings in the One Day competition, as the Blaze look to continue their unbeaten run through Super Smash.

Alongside Leigh Kasperek, Georgia Plimmer is also still unavailable as she continues to rehab from a stress fracture which has sidelined her for the last couple of months.

‍

For the Firebirds, BLACKCAPS allrounder Michael Bracewell is included in the gameday squad after featuring in the ODI series against Sri Lanka over the weekend at Eden Park.

The other Wellington players in the ODI squad, Rachin Ravindra and Nathan Smith, are expected to be available for Firebirds selection soon, after a recovery period.

Seamer Michael Snedden also returns to the squad after an injury had kept him out of action for over a month after he was hurt in Round 4 of the Plunket Shield.

Nick Greenwood and Gareth Severin will come out of the squad as corresponding moves for the returning players.

Watch our Super Smash Round 4 doubleheader and free on TVNZ Duke or online at TVNZ+ from 12:40pm tomorrow, January 14th 2025.

‍

The Wellington Firebirds and Blaze for Round 4 of the Super Smash are:

Wellington Blaze

Melie Kerr (c)

Nicole Baird

Rachel Bryant*

Rebecca Burns

Natasha Codyre

Sophie Devine

Xara Jetly

Caitlin King

Jess Kerr

Sam MacKinder

Jess McFadyen

Gemma Sims

‍

Wellington Firebirds

Nick Kelly (c)

Muhammad Abbas

Tom Blundell

Michael Bracewell

James Hartshorn

Troy Johnson

Ben Sears

Michael Snedden

Tim Robinson

Jesse Tashkoff

Logan van Beek

Peter Younghusband

*denotes possible Wellington T20 debut

‍