Suzie Bates

Bates learnt the game of cricket while playing with her brothers (Tom and Henry) in the backyard at Macandrew Bay Dunedin. Her talent as a cricketer was spotted during a national event for the Otago Girls' High School. At the age of just 15, she was a part of Otago Sparks side in the national women's league.

She came into the limelight when she crunched a knock of 183 off 152 for Otago against Auckland in the State League in the 2005-06 season. And that innings propelled her into the national consciousness as she was subsequently picked to play for New Zealand in ODIs against India in 2005-06 and the T20I debut the next year against South Africa.

Bates is a big match player. She ups her game during the mega events, especially in World Cups. During the 2009 World Cup, she smashed 168, the third highest ODI score ever at that time in women's cricket. In the 2013 World Cup, Bates amassed 407 runs and won the player of the tournament award, which also led to her winning the Women's ODI cricketer of the year.

The right-hand batter took over the captaincy reins in 2011 and has since done a successful job of leading the New Zealand Women's side. The role has not harmed her batting, in fact, it has brought the best out of her. Apart from winning the ODI cricketer of the year in 2013, Bates did the double in 2015, claiming the ODI and T20I cricketer of the year.

She is also one of the first women to consider herself as a full-time cricketer, when New Zealand Cricket gave her a central contract in 2013.

Bates is set to play her third World Cup in 2017 and will be leading a strong New Zealand side in the mega-event. During White Ferns' second game against South Africa, Bates will complete 100 ODIs, becoming only the eight cricket in New Zealand to achieve the feat and joins a list of greats - Debbie Hockley, Sara McGlashan, Amy Watkins.

Known for her aggressive nature with the bat, Bates is a certainty in most of the T20 sides. Add her handy medium pace and she becomes the most valuable cricketer and hence roped in by Perth Scorchers for the Women's Big Bash League, where she almost led them to the title in the second season, falling short to Sydney Sixers in the final by seven runs.

Interestingly, she has also represented the New Zealand basketball team during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Bates only gave up basketball when she was offered the role of captain in 2011, till then she was a double international.

Suzie and her love for 23: Suzie's love for the sport sprouted at a very young age watching her brothers play cricket and Basketball with their mates. After the semi-final win against West Indies, Bates admitted "My brother used to love Michael Jordan. He used to watch the Chicago Bulls playing all the time. My mum used to let Tom get off school early to watch the Bulls when they were winning. He (Michael Jordan) was my favourite too."