Suzie Bates has been ruled out for the next three months after suffering a quadricep injury, dealing a significant blow to New Zealand cricket ahead of the 2026 home season. The experienced allrounder will miss the White Ferns’ home series against Zimbabwe in February and March, along with the remainder of the domestic summer for Otago.
The 38-year-old sustained the injury last month while fielding for Otago in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield. Scans later confirmed the tear was serious enough to require an extended rehabilitation period, keeping her out of action until at least March. It marks another injury concern for New Zealand, following news that Eden Carson is facing an even longer layoff due to an elbow problem.
As a result, Bates will be unavailable for Otago’s Super Smash campaign, a tournament she had been particularly eager to contest. Despite the disappointment, she has already shifted her focus toward recovery and a potential return in time for the white-ball series against South Africa later in March.
“I’m gutted to be missing out this summer,” Bates said in a statement released by New Zealand Cricket. “I was really looking forward to another season with the Sparks, especially the Super Smash. My focus now is doing everything I can to be back on the park with the White Ferns in March.”
The injury comes on the back of a challenging ODI World Cup in India, where Bates struggled for form, scoring just 40 runs across five innings at an average of eight. With rehabilitation now her priority, New Zealand will be hoping the enforced break allows one of their most experienced players to return refreshed and ready for the international calendar ahead.
