Battle for the Rose Bowl: A new era for trans-Tasman rivals

When Australia and New Zealand go head-to-head in the NRMA Insurance T20I series from Sunday, a familiar piece of silverware will be up for grabs.

The trans-Tasman rivals are set to play for the coveted Rose Bowl trophy every time they meet in bilateral women's series, starting with this month's three-game series at North Sydney Oval.

Since 1985, Australia and New Zealand have played for the trophy in one-day international series, with the Aussies holding the Rose Bowl since February 2000.

It means the Rose Bowl will be up for grabs twice this summer, with New Zealand to return to Australian shores in March for three ODIs in Canberra and Melbourne.

"The Rose Bowl is such a special part of the rivalry between Australia and New Zealand, and having it up for grabs across all bilateral white-ball series adds another level of excitement," Australia captain Sophie Molineux said.  

"We know how much this contest means to both sides, and we’re looking forward to getting out there and competing for the trophy in front of a home crown in Sydney." 

If a single tour features both T20s and ODIs, the winner will be decided by most wins across the two formats, and in the case of a tie, the trophy will remain with the current holders. Australia and New Zealand have not met in a women's Test since 1996, but if a full multi-format series was to be introduced between the rivals, the same point structure would be used as the women’s Ashes.

For many less fervent followers of the women's game, The Rose Bowl is unlikely to be as familiar as say, the Women's Ashes trophy – particularly now that trans-Tasman ODI series have become scarcer.

But to those who have competed for it, the Rose Bowl is one of the game's most valuable pieces of silverware, representing the fierce-but-friendly rivalry between the trans-Tasman rivals.

For Australia, it's been a constant in their trophy cabinet for the last 26 years, an ode to their dominance in trans-Tasman cricket since Belinda Clark's team won the Rose Bowl back with a 3-0 series sweep in Melbourne in early 2000. Ask any Australian player and they'll tell you how determined they are to make sure they're not the ones to give it back.

The White Ferns, despite their drought, hold the Rose Bowl in such high regard that New Zealand Cricket in 2024 produced an in-depth docuseries tracing its history with a host of legends re-living classic moments.

For New Zealand, the Rose Bowl has been somewhat akin to Halley's Comet across the past two decades: a treasure briefly sighted once every few years at pre-series captain's photoshoots and at post-series presentations, only to be whisked back to Cricket Australia's Jolimont headquarters.

That's a record their captain Amelia Kerr is desperate to change.

"I remember when I first made the White Ferns, playing in the Rose Bowl ... it's something that is extremely special to our group, and I'm sure it's the same for Australia," Kerr told cricket.com.au.

"It was our next biggest thing after a World Cup, so to have the opportunity to play it more in terms of playing the T20 format, it's really exciting, and it's nice to be able to play Australia again.

"It'd be pretty special (to win it back) – 1999 was the last time we won it, so to play against Australia, they've just come off a World Cup win, we'd be pretty fizzed to get the Rose Bowl back in New Zealand."

The addition of the shortest format could aid New Zealand in that goal – while they have not won an ODI series against Australia this century, they have been more successful in T20Is, with their last series win coming in 2017.

In all, the T20I series ledger between the rivals stands at 12 wins to Australia, four to New Zealand with one drawn. Across 45 T20Is overall, Australia have won 26 to the White Ferns' 18.

The addition of T20Is to the Rose Bowl will ensure it remains regularly up for grabs. Australia will host New Zealand in three ODIs in March 2027, but as it stands, will not play them in another 50-over series in this World Cup cycle through to mid-2029. The trans-Tasman rivals are currently due to next meet in a T20I series in March 2029.

What's the history behind the Rose Bowl?

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the introduction of regular series against New Zealand gave Australia's women a much-needed regular opponent outside of England, and helped spearhead the growth of the game across the Tasman.

The trophy itself was introduced for Australia's 1978-79 Test tour across the Tasman, when series sponsor Shell of New Zealand – yes, the oil company – donated the silverware. While it was originally linked to the red-ball game, but from 1984-85 onwards was tied to the now-regular ODI series between the rivals.

The Rose Bowl remained a largely annual fixture for the next 20 years, before the introduction of the ICC Women's ODI Championship changed the shape of the touring program, with the teams generally now meeting every 2-4 years.

The Best of the Rose Bowl

Iconic Rose Bowl moments and performances

Meg Lanning's whirlwind century (Sydney, 2012)

Lanning was still in the early days of her international career when she stunned New Zealand at North Sydney Oval in 2012. The White Ferns had posted a meagre 177 all out, thanks to the efforts of spin trio Erin Osborne, Lisa Sthalekar and Jess Jonassen.

A 20-year-old Meg Lanning had already scored two hundreds in her first 13 ODIs, but no one saw this innings coming. Opening the batting, seven of the first nine deliveries she faced were dot balls. Then, she unleashed on New Zealand pace bowler Sian Ruck, smashing three fours and a six from the fifth over of the chase. Lanning was away.

No White Ferns bowler was safe and Lanning was unstoppable, reaching her third one-day century off just 45 balls – a mark that remained the fastest ODI ton by an Australian until Glenn Maxwell broke the record with a 40-ball hundred against the Netherlands over a decade later.

Meg Lanning loves Mount Maunganui (2016, 2017)

There was something about Lanning and Tauranga’s Bay Oval. She scored three tons at the picturesque North Island ground between February 2016 and Match 2017.

In early 2016, the trans-Tasman rivals had split the first two matches of the Rose Bowl series, with Lanning’s seventh ton - a 113-ball 114no - levelling the series after the White Ferns took out the opener.

A couple of days later, a second straight century from Lanning sealed another Rose Bowl series win for Australia in a thriller.

Set an imposing 244 for victory, New Zealand new-ball pair Lea Tahuhu and Morna Nielson shackled Australia early and removed opener Nicole Bolton for a duck in the second over.

After a tentative start Lanning became increasingly aggressive, scoring 127 from 135 deliveries to guide her team into a winning position.

The third, in March 2017, was a display that was pure Lanning: a tricky run chase in a must-win series decider.

With the ODI series against New Zealand tied 1-1 and the Rose Bowl trophy on the line, Lanning scored a match-winning 104no to help Australia to a final over, five-wicket victory at Mount Maunganui. It was her 10th ODI century, passing the record held by former England captain Charlotte Edwards.

Suzie Bates's record score propels White Ferns (Sydney, 2012)

Then-White Ferns captain Bates gave her team a winning start to the 2012 Rose Bowl series in Sydney when she struck a superb unbeaten 122 from 131 deliveries at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Australia had elected to bat first, with Meg Lanning's speedy 87 and skipper Jodie Field's 51 helping the hosts to 248 before they were bowled out in the 49th over.

That target proved nowhere near enough and while the Australians dismissed opener Lucy Doolan for 10, the White Ferns then took control as Bates was joined by Amy Satterthwaite.

The pair put on 168 for the second wicket and while Satterthwaite was dismissed on 98, Bates batted through to secure victory in the 45th over, finishing unbeaten on 122 from 131 deliveries. It remains the highest score by a New Zealand batter in a Rose Bowl ODI.

Ellyse Perry's breakthrough first ODI (Adelaide, 2019)

Perry continued her trend of reaching major milestones in dramatic fashion when she hit her first ODI century against New Zealand in Adelaide.

Having executed the anchor role with aplomb to steer Australia out of a spot of bother, the allrounder was unbeaten on 95 heading into the final over of the innings. Perry had been in this situation before; having finished not out in the 90s on three previous occasions in ODIs and dismissed for an even 90 on another.

It looked as though she may once again fall short when she hit two singles – batting partner Delissa Kimmince duly returning the strike each time – to sit on 97 with two balls remaining. Searching for a boundary, Perry went big on the second last ball of the innings, bringing up her century in bizarre circumstances when she was dropped on the rope by Anna Peterson.

The ball then rolled to the boundary, to see the Australian to celebrate three figures in an ODI for the first time. Perry then struck a six to put the finishing flourish on a fine 107 from 110 deliveries.

Amelia Kerr announces herself (Mount Maunganui, 2017)

Mount Maunganui's Bay Oval has played host to a host of classic Rose Bowl moments across the last decade and one of the most memorable for New Zealand came in 2017.

A 16-year-old leg-spinner Amelia Kerr missed a day of high school and announced herself against the world's top-ranked team in just her second ODI appearance against Australia, following her international debut three months prior.

She put the tourists in a spin as she took 4-54 from her 10 overs, including the prized wicket of Australia captain Meg Lanning (bowled with the very first ball she faced from Kerr), alongside Beth Mooney, Alyssa Healy and Elyse Villani.

Afterwards Lanning praised the teenage leg-spinner, describing her performance as the arrival of a "star of the future".

Emily Drumm's Rose Bowl hat-trick (Adelaide, 1996)

Former New Zealand captain Emily Drumm, who led her team to victory over Australia in the 2000 ODI World Cup final, also holds a special place in history as the only player to have claimed a Rose Bowl hat-trick.

Drumm's heroics came in the second ODI between the trans-Tasman rivals at Adelaide Oval in 1996. Australia had appeared set for a big total after Karen Rolton and Belinda Clark scored half-centuries, but Drumm curtailed the hosts, dismissing Zoe Goss, Jo Garey and Joanne Broadbent secure her hat-trick. In the end, Australia made just 9-164 from their 50 overs – but it was still enough, as they held on for a thrilling four-run win.

Belinda Clark's lone hand sets a new record (Auckland, 1997)

Former Australia captain Clark produced a remarkable individual performance in the second ODI of her team's 1997 tour of New Zealand. Batting first in Auckland, Clark smashed 142 from 130 deliveries at the top of the order, with her onslaught only coming to an end when she was run out by her opposing skipper Maia Lewis.

Australia's next highest contribution of their total of 5-247 came from Mel Jones, who hit 28.

In reply, New Zealand great Debbie Hockley carried her bat scoring an unbeaten 78 at the top of the order, but she too was playing a lone hand with their next highest score Lewis' 25 as the hosts were bowled out for 158.

Clark's 142 remains the highest individual score in a Rose Bowl ODI to this day.

NRMA Insurance Women's T20 Series v New Zealand

First T20I: Sunday, October 18

Second T20I: Tuesday, October 20

Third T20I: Thursday, October 22

* All matches played at North Sydney Oval starting at 7:15pm AEDT

Australia T20I squad: Sophie Molineux (c), Ashleigh Gardner (vc), Tahlia McGrath (vc), Nicola Carey, Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham 

New Zealand T20I squad: Melie Kerr (c), Eden Carson, Flora Devonshire, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis (wk), Bella James, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Nensi Patel, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Izzy Sharp

All women's international matches will be shown live on Seven, 7Plus, Kayo Sports and Foxtel