Suzie Bates: The Complete Cricketer
With 9,647 international runs and 108 wickets across formats, Suzie Bates stands as one of the most prolific all-rounders in the history of women's cricket. Across 253 T20 matches alone — a staggering career count — the New Zealander has combined consistent run-scoring with economical off-spin to establish herself among the game's elite multi-dimensional players.
Bates' career numbers demand attention. Six ODI centuries. Two T20I centuries. A highest score of 126. An economy rate of 5.02 in ODIs. These are not the marks of a part-timer in either discipline — they reflect a genuine dual-threat who has shaped outcomes at the highest level for over a decade.
What makes Bates exceptional is not merely the accumulation but the span. From representing New Zealand across World Cups to starring in franchise leagues across three continents — the WBBL, The Hundred, and beyond — she has maintained elite performance standards through evolving eras of women's cricket.
Career Numbers at a Glance
| Format | Mat | Inns | Runs | Avg | SR | HS | 100s | 50s | Wkts | Bowl Avg | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODI | 104 | 102 | 3,389 | 36.44 | 76.6 | 126 | 6 | 24 | 27 | 47.07 | 5.02 |
| T20I/T20 | 253 | 250 | 6,258 | 27.94 | 108.1 | 124 | 2 | 32 | 81 | 25.02 | 6.95 |
| Total | 357 | 352 | 9,647 | — | — | 126 | 8 | 56 | 108 | — | — |
The combined 56 half-centuries and 8 centuries place Bates comfortably in the upper echelon of international run-scorers in women's cricket history.
The ODI Record
Bates' ODI career stretches across 104 matches — a number that reflects both longevity and consistent selection at the highest level. Her 3,389 runs at 36.44 make her one of the most productive ODI batters New Zealand has ever fielded in the women's game.
Six ODI centuries tell the story of a player who does not merely accumulate — she dominates. Her highest score of 126 demonstrates the capacity to build match-winning innings from the top of the order. Combined with 24 fifties, Bates converts starts at a rate that justifies her position as a cornerstone of the batting lineup.
With the ball, 27 ODI wickets at 47.07 and an economy of 5.02 provide genuine bowling utility. In a 50-over context, an economy under 5.10 in women's ODIs is valuable — it creates pressure at one end and allows strike bowlers to attack from the other. Bates' 1,519 balls bowled in ODIs confirm she is not merely a fill-in option but a trusted component of New Zealand's bowling plans.
Her 396 fours in ODI cricket show a batting style built on placement and timing. Just 8 sixes across 4,424 balls faced tells you this is a classical accumulator who uses the ground rather than the air — a method perfectly suited to the 50-over game.
T20 Mastery: A Global Franchise Icon
The T20 numbers are where Bates' career reaches extraordinary territory. With 253 T20 matches, she is among the most capped T20 players — male or female — in cricket history. Her 6,258 T20 runs at a strike rate of 108.1 represent sustained excellence across multiple competitions and continents.
Two T20 centuries, including a highest score of 124, place her among the rare players who have reached three figures in the shortest format multiple times. Her 32 fifties show that big innings are not anomalies — they are a pattern. With 712 fours and 55 sixes, Bates has cleared the ropes sparingly but hit boundaries with clockwork regularity.
Her franchise career reads like a world tour of elite T20 cricket:
- WBBL: Perth Scorchers, Adelaide Strikers, Sydney Sixers, Hobart Hurricanes
- The Hundred: Oval Invincibles, Birmingham Phoenix
- Super Smash: Various
At each stop, Bates has delivered. The WBBL — arguably the strongest domestic T20 league in women's cricket — has been the stage for many of her finest innings. Her ability to adapt to Australian conditions, English conditions, and home decks in New Zealand speaks to technical completeness.
The All-Rounder Dimension
With 81 T20 wickets at 25.02 and an economy of 6.95, Bates offers genuine bowling value in the shortest format. That bowling average of 25.02 in T20s is not mere part-time filler — it is the mark of a bowler who takes regular wickets and does so at a reasonable cost.
Across formats, her 108 international wickets add a dimension that pure batters cannot provide. In squad composition terms, a player who averages 36 with the bat in ODIs AND takes a wicket every 56 balls in T20s is worth more than the sum of those parts. She allows captains to field attacking combinations knowing one slot does double duty.
Her 1,749 balls bowled in T20 cricket — nearly 292 overs — is the workload of a genuine bowling option, not a change bowler used only in desperation.
Legacy in Women's Cricket
Bates belongs to the generation that transformed women's cricket from a niche pursuit into a globally broadcast professional sport. Her career has spanned the pre-professional era through to fully contracted central players, packed stadiums for standalone women's fixtures, and million-dollar auction franchises.
Few players in the women's game — or indeed in cricket broadly — have maintained relevance across such a transformation. That she has done so while playing for eight different teams across five competitions speaks to both adaptability and enduring quality.
Her impact on New Zealand women's cricket specifically cannot be overstated. As a career-long pillar of their batting order, Bates has mentored generations of younger players while continuing to deliver at the crease herself.
The Numbers in Context
To appreciate Bates' place in history, consider: 9,647 international runs combined with 108 wickets is a double that vanishingly few cricketers — in any era, any gender — have achieved. Among women's all-rounders, this combination of bat-first volume with consistent bowling output places her alongside Ellyse Perry and Stafanie Taylor in the very highest tier.
The breadth of teams she has represented — from the international stage with New Zealand to six different T20 franchise sides across three countries — demonstrates a player whose skills have been in demand everywhere cricket is played at the elite level.
FAQ
How many international runs does Suzie Bates have?
Suzie Bates has scored 9,647 international runs across 357 matches (3,389 in ODIs at 36.44 and 6,258 in T20s at 27.94), making her one of the highest run-scorers in women's cricket history.
Is Suzie Bates an all-rounder?
Yes. Bates is a genuine all-rounder with 108 international wickets (27 in ODIs at 47.07, 81 in T20s at 25.02) to complement her 9,647 runs. Her bowling economy of 5.02 in ODIs and 6.95 in T20s makes her a trusted option in both formats.
How many T20 matches has Suzie Bates played?
Bates has played 253 T20 matches — one of the highest counts in cricket history for any player — across New Zealand T20Is and franchise competitions including the WBBL, The Hundred, and more.
What is Suzie Bates' highest international score?
Bates' highest international score is 126 in ODIs. In T20 cricket, her highest is 124. She has 8 international centuries (6 in ODIs, 2 in T20s) and 56 half-centuries across formats.