Australian fast bowler Ellyse Perry maybe is the most recognized name in the international women’s cricket arena for her twofold involvement with Australian cricket and football national teams but there are another cricketer who matches her credentials and she is no other than New Zealand captain and allrounder Suzie Bates.
Both Perry and Suzie are now in Sylhet to take part in Women’s World Twenty20. Suzie, who was the player of the match in their last game against Ireland scoring 51-ball 68, represented New Zealand basketball team at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and is one of many who were involved in other sports than cricket.
Bates made her international debut against India in the ODI series in 2006 where she helped the side with both batting and bowling to seal a 4-1 series victory. A year later, the 26-year-old gave up cricket for a while, around 18 months, and went to Beijing with basketball team to fulfill her dream of playing in the Olympics. Not only basketball, Suzie was once asked by the coach of her Canberra-based football club to choose between football and cricket but she later decided to stick into one discipline, the one where she achieved more honour.
"Basketball tests your physical fitness; cricket tests your mental fitness. If you’re not physically fit, you’ll be found out very quickly in a basketball game. That has helped me in my cricket as well. But overall, I think being able to handle things when you're under pressure mentally is the biggest challenger here. What I loved about basketball was the intensity, obviously a few skills are transferrable, I do miss basketball, but for now cricket will do." said Suzie after the game against Ireland.
There were several other New Zealand cricketers who represented national team more than just cricket. Rebecca Rolls represented New Zealand in both cricket and football while Sophie Devine was member of cricket and hockey teams.