Cricket: White Ferns, England grapple with absence of stars, after clash with Indian WPL

The White Ferns are preparing for a Twenty20 and one-day series against England, but they'll have to begin without two of their stars. 

Sophie Devine and Melie Kerr are travelling back from India, after the Womens Premier League, meaning they'll miss Tuesday's opening match. 

That's the sacrifice teams are now being forced to make. 

The windswept nets of Dunedin are a world away from a 30,000 sellout at Delhi.

Kerr and Devine have finished their WPL campaign, with the NZ captain helping her Royal Challengers Bangalore to victory in the final and Kerr's Mumbai Indians eliminated in the semis.

"We've planned for it, but you always want them to be made available," admitted veteran batter Suzie Bates. 

England have been dealt an even bigger blow, with four key players missing the opening three games of the T20 series, after prioritising the Indian tournament. 

"It's a shame that it does clash at times, but that's where the games going and it's hard to fit everything in," said Bates. 

Players are now forced to choose between their country and the riches of franchise cricket. English captain Heather Knight knows all about those tough decisions, saying no to the WPL and an almost $80,000 payday, so she could come to New Zealand early. 

"It's choices players have to make now and it can be quite tricky," she said. "I think it's really important that it's on an individual level and the right thing for me was to be here." 

Either way, younger players will have to step up. Both sides will test their depth, which is important with the T20 World Cup in October. 

"We've got an opportunity to blood some new players and see where they are at in international cricket," said Bates. 

There are both positives and negatives to the WPL taking our Kiwi stars.

The White Ferns are preparing for a Twenty20 and one-day series against England, but they'll have to begin without two of their stars. 

Sophie Devine and Melie Kerr are travelling back from India, after the Womens Premier League, meaning they'll miss Tuesday's opening match. 

That's the sacrifice teams are now being forced to make. 

The windswept nets of Dunedin are a world away from a 30,000 sellout at Delhi.

Kerr and Devine have finished their WPL campaign, with the NZ captain helping her Royal Challengers Bangalore to victory in the final and Kerr's Mumbai Indians eliminated in the semis.

"We've planned for it, but you always want them to be made available," admitted veteran batter Suzie Bates. 

England have been dealt an even bigger blow, with four key players missing the opening three games of the T20 series, after prioritising the Indian tournament. 

"It's a shame that it does clash at times, but that's where the games going and it's hard to fit everything in," said Bates. 

Players are now forced to choose between their country and the riches of franchise cricket. English captain Heather Knight knows all about those tough decisions, saying no to the WPL and an almost $80,000 payday, so she could come to New Zealand early. 

"It's choices players have to make now and it can be quite tricky," she said. "I think it's really important that it's on an individual level and the right thing for me was to be here." 

Either way, younger players will have to step up. Both sides will test their depth, which is important with the T20 World Cup in October. 

"We've got an opportunity to blood some new players and see where they are at in international cricket," said Bates. 

There are both positives and negatives to the WPL taking our Kiwi stars.

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