Experienced New Zealand internationals Morna Nielsen and Amy Satterthwaite have signed to play for Southern Vipers and Lancashire Thunder respectively in the inaugural Kia Super League, following the withdrawal of Australian pair Megan Schutt and Sarah Coyte.
Schutt has been ruled out from taking part in the competition due to injury, while Coyte has decided not to travel to England this summer for personal reasons.
Left-arm spinner Nielsen will now complete an all-Kiwi overseas line-up for the Southern Vipers this summer, when she plays alongside White Fern team-mates Suzie Bates and Sara McGlashan for the Hampshire-based side.
With 84 international caps already to her name, 24-year-old Nielsen is currently ranked number two in the world in the ICC T20 player rankings, behind England’s Anya Shrubsole.
Powerful top order batsman and useful off-spinner Amy Satterthwaite will join West Indian duo Deandra Dottin and Hayley Matthews as the third overseas star for Lancashire Thunder at the Emirates Old Trafford this summer.
Satterthwaite made her New Zealand debut in 2007 and has since played in 80 One-Day Internationals (ODI) and 71 Twenty20 Internationals (T20I), recording two ODI centuries alongside boasting best T20I bowling figures of 6-17 against England.
Kia Super League General Manager, Jo Kirk, said: “With just over six weeks to go until the start of the Kia Super League there is a growing level of excitement and buzz around the competition, with all six teams now in full swing preparing for the opening weekend of action on 30 and 31 July.
“We are absolutely delighted with the calibre of overseas players that all six teams have been able to secure, and we look forward to welcoming all 18 of them to England this summer.”
