On the Comeback Trail: White Ferns Batter Lauren Down Prepares to Tour England Just Months After Giving Birth
Just five months after welcoming her first child, New Zealand’s Lauren Down is set to rejoin the White Ferns squad for their upcoming ODI series against England, showcasing her determination to reclaim her spot in the team’s top order.
Down, 29, gave birth to daughter Ruby in early January, having last traveled with the White Ferns as part of their T20 World Cup campaign in South Africa a year prior. Despite the challenges of new motherhood, the experienced batter is eager to reignite her international cricket career, stating that a comeback was “always in the back of my mind.”
“I knew that, one, I wanted to be a mum and have a family but, two, that I still wanted to give cricket a good crack,” Down said. “Fortunately the comeback has gone pretty well so far. It’s been tough at times and physically a bit draining, but it’s been really good and it’s nice being a mum and still being able to play cricket as well.”
Down’s return to the national squad is further bolstered by the support of two other White Ferns mums, the recently retired Amy Satterthwaite and the expectant Lea Tahuhu, who will rejoin the team for the T20I leg of the England tour. The trio’s shared experiences have been invaluable as Down navigates the physical and mental challenges of balancing motherhood with elite cricket.
“I’m very lucky to have Lea around the group still as well,” Down said. “I’ve definitely leaned on them a lot during my pregnancy and also now coming back and talking to them about what worked for them and what challenges they faced.”
While reclaiming her fitness levels has been a significant hurdle, Down is no stranger to managing comebacks. She missed the home ODI World Cup in early 2022 due to a fractured thumb but is now determined to cement her place in the White Ferns’ top order, both in the 100-ball cricket live format and in the upcoming ODI series against England.
“Time away from the game was actually quite nice, it was refreshing and then it just sort of made me hungry to get back and just want to get back into the fold as soon as I could,” she said. “I’m hoping to sort of bat around the top order and try and cement a spot up there in both formats would be ideal.”
Head coach Ben Sawyer expressed his confidence in Down’s abilities, noting her impressive performances during the team’s recent training camps. “She’s earned a spot back up there at the top order and I think especially in ODI cricket, she’ll be a real force for us up there. I’m looking forward to seeing what she can do on the UK tour.”
As the White Ferns prepare to take on England, the return of Lauren Down, a club cricket standout and a key player in the team’s fantasy club cricket lineup, adds an inspirational narrative to their pursuit of success on the international stage.
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