Injured Suzie Bates ruled out of action for 3 months

New Zealand opener Suzie Bates has been ruled out of action for three months. She sustained a quadricep tear which will keep her on the sidelines through the home summer, until March.

Bates suffered the injury last month while fielding during a Shield match. Subsequent scans have revealed that due to the severity of the tear, the former skipper will require three months of rehabilitation.

The recovery timeline therefore rules out Bates for Otago's remainder of the domestic home summer, and the home series against Zimbabwe in February. Bates is now eyeing a comeback in the white-ball series against South Africa in March.

"I'm gutted to be missing out this summer, I was really looking forward to another season with the Sparks, especially the Super Smash," said Bates. "I'm determined to get back on the field with the White Ferns in March so that'll be my focus for now."