Follow UsAre there really more sheep than people in New Zealand?
As much as it could shock you, the answer is yes, as there are about 4.5 sheep for each New Zealander. But New Zealand’s rising wicketkeeper batter Isabella Gaze refuses to believe it, as she laughs away that notion.
“I never really believed that there were more sheep than humans, and I still don't believe that. But it's quite funny,” Izzy Gaze said in a Cricket.com exclusive.
Gaze’s journey across from the narrow yet picturesque canals in the Netherlands to the dramatic natural landscapes of New Zealand in all its glory is quite interesting. What’s more intriguing is not how she landed in New Zealand but the pit stops in between, where she lived in both Hong Kong and Singapore.
What’s the story behind her constant travelling as a kid?
“We travelled around the world because of dad's work. My dad used to work for Adidas, where he was in charge of global sales in Asia. So that meant we lived in the Netherlands, Hong Kong and Singapore,” she said.
A 'Kiwi born and bred,' Gaze draws inspiration from a country with a rich sporting history. While the All Blacks (Rugby) have long been the face of that history, she and the White Ferns are now forging their legacy, significantly contributing to New Zealand's cricketing story.
Funnily enough, her interest in the sport grew because of a fierce and competitive mother, who played beach cricket with a young Gaze.
"My interest in cricket stems largely from my dad, who is a big fan. While I didn't play much cricket during my time in Singapore and Hong Kong—where I focused on other sports like rugby and hockey—our family holidays back home in New Zealand were different. We’d always play beach cricket at Mount Maunganui.
“Especially when I play with my mom, she's probably the most competitive beach cricketer I know. So yeah, it can get very competitive on the beach,” she added.
At one point, however, it wasn’t all black and white as to whether Gaze would transform herself into a professional cricketer, given she was equally interested in hockey.
“Hockey started in primary school and through high school. I played representative hockey for North Harbour [Hockey Association], and yeah, played club and school hockey. So that kept me pretty busy in the winter, and then I had cricket in the summer.”
It wasn’t until she was 12 or 13 that Gaze took up cricket more seriously, when she joined hands with Rebecca Rolls, a legendary figure in the White Ferns folklore. Rolls, who incidentally was the first wicketkeeper in women’s limited-overs games to reach 100 dismissals, immediately noticed Gaze’s talent.
“So I made the Under-15 Auckland team at 12-13 and thought, you know, it'd be good to get some one-on-one coaching. So I reached out to Rebecca [Rolls] through a friend of ours and started working with her weekly. Over the last eight, nine years, I have worked incredibly hard with her.
"She's been instrumental in my career, making a significant impact. I owe a great deal of my success as a keeper to her coaching and unwavering support. She is, and has always been, a huge role model for me,” the youngster said.
At 15, Gaze’s decision to play cricket full-time was vindicated when she earned her first domestic contract with Auckland. Over the next six years, the young wicketkeeper has done a lot to establish herself as a vital cog in the White Ferns’ wheels, fulfilling her lifelong dream of becoming an athlete.
“I only realised that cricket could be a job when I got my first domestic contract [Auckland]. When I got into domestic cricket, it gave me a taste, and I knew I wanted to play cricket. But I think my whole life, I've wanted to be an athlete, whether for the Black Sticks [New Zealand hockey team] or the White Ferns.”
That interest in the sport accelerated when a young Gaze stood next to Suzie Bates, an icon of the White Ferns. And when she was in the crowd trying to get a photo with Sophie Devine, it was clear that she would make it her life goal to be amongst them at the highest level.
“She's [Suzie Bates] an icon of the game. So as soon as I met her, I knew I wanted to be just like her. I remember getting a photo with Sophie Devine at a Big Bash game when I was about 12. And it was cool to see her playing it over there, and then getting to meet her too,” the 21-year-old remembered.
Her dream came true in her first-ever World Cup appearance, as the wicketkeeper helped the team achieve a rare T20 World Cup win – a trophy that had evaded their cabinet for the longest time. She wasn’t just a part of the setup but a vital cog in the wheel, scoring a crucial 14-ball 20 in the clash against West Indies, where New Zealand secured a narrow eight-run win.
Even behind the sticks, she played quite an underrated role for the White Ferns, when she made a telling difference – a review to dismiss the on-song Anneke Bosch – which went a long way in White Ferns winning the title.
“Yeah, it was so surreal. I think it being my first ICC World Cup event was really special, and to know how hard those senior players have worked over the years, and they would have played a handful of World Cups,” she recalled.
“For it to be my first and to win it, it's pretty special, but also to show that they've worked so hard, and the win is obviously important to me, but it was important to win it for them. So they have that memory and that achievement under their belts after, you know, all the years and years of hard work they had put in.”
As one would naturally expect, New Zealand’s celebrations were as grand as the efforts and the hard work that they had put in leading up to the start of the multi-team tournament. At the centre of all the celebrations was the White Ferns’ opener Georgia Plimmer, who rendered her own version of the iconic single, ‘Don’t Stop Believin’.
"Naturally, the locker room atmosphere was electric. The celebrations were amazing, highlighted by Georgia Plimmer's now-viral dance that perfectly captured her infectious energy and the team's high spirits. We still can't quite believe it to this day,” Gaze said.
But the buck doesn’t stop there, as Gaze knows there is a bigger fish to fry in a week – the 50-over World Cup. It has been 25 years since the White Ferns lifted that prestigious trophy, and it would need the entire team’s efforts to beat the odds in India. Gaze’s role isn’t easy, as there is no real set template for success.
On good days, she might have to just come out and employ her T20 tactics, but on bad days, the 21-year-old’s role will be microscopically analysed as she will need to balance playing overs out and counter-attacking.
"Where I come into bat in ODI, you know, it's probably around that number seven role. I could be coming in the 10th over, but I could also come in at the 45th over. In every game, I need clarity on my role for that specific day... I might have to rotate the strike for 20 overs, or I might need to come in and attack with a strike rate of 150."
Gaze couldn’t have asked for a better start to her maiden ODI World Cup appearance, with a classy 100-ball 101 against India A in a warm-up game, where she found the gaps easily, finding home in conditions far away from home.
“Yeah, obviously, it's nice to have some runs under the belt, but I'm still going to start from ball one next game. Knowing how I did that kind of gives me more understanding of how I want to approach each game. And if I get put in a situation like that again, I know how I've done that.
“So I know that I can go out there and do it again. But it was, yeah, it was obviously a nice day out. But now we've still got eight big games ahead of us. And I've got to start from ball one each day.”
During that knock, Gaze was seen masterfully employing various renditions of the sweep shot, including playing the reverse sweep easily. Throughout her career, she has hardly broken a sweat while playing that shot—purely because of her background in hockey.
“It [Playing hockey] definitely has helped with my batting. I like to play reverse in cricket. And it was probably my strength in hockey. It was probably my best shot in hockey. So that's how I've been able to develop the reverse sweep. And just my hand-eye definitely helped. You can tell when people are hockey players by how they bat. But yeah, it's pretty cool to be able to have played both growing up and, you know, translate it into cricket now.”
Gaze's free-flowing century was no coincidence. She, along with other New Zealand cricketers, had the unique opportunity to train at the Super Kings Academy (SKA) in Chennai. This intense preparation in harsh Indian conditions was crucial, allowing Gaze to master the tough task of keeping wickets and iron out flaws in her batting against spin.
"Our time at the Super Kings Academy camp in Chennai, hosted by Sri [Sriram Krishnamurthy], was an incredible experience. We faced some tough wickets and challenging, hot conditions, but that allowed us to get out there and learn directly from the local coaches. Everyone benefited immensely, particularly in terms of playing spin.
“We gained vital match practice, and that increased confidence on Indian wickets and in these conditions will be hugely helpful heading into the World Cup. We're all incredibly grateful for that opportunity."
So, what was the real lesson for the 21-year-old in her first big test in Indian conditions? Understanding the wickets and their inconsistent bounce.
“The wickets can be pretty tricky over here with the inconsistent bounce. And, you know, when you've got a bowler like Amelia Kerr, who's world-class and she can turn it both ways. I've just got to make sure I'm in a powerful position reacting to each ball and, you know, just make sure I go through my processes.
“I think the best thing is to trust my skill and trust the work I've done. And look, hey, it's not going to be perfect, might not be pretty, but I've got to give it my all. Knowing that we also could have some belter wickets is nice.”
Like always, the consensus among the experts is that Australia will walk into the tournament as firm favourites. Then, there’s India, a team that knows these conditions inside out. A few others see South Africa as challenging the powerful duo.
However, the familiar narrative persists: New Zealand remains outside the discussion for those predicted to lift the trophy. Like her teammates, Gaze is also determined to maintain that competitive spirit, fueling the fire in their bellies with a much-needed intensity.
"I think that's just the Kiwi way—we always tend to fly under the radar. We like it that way, and we always deliver when it counts. It's great when people see us as the underdogs, but our goal is to prove our position in the ICC standings and go all the way.
“Winning that T20 World Cup showed us exactly what we're capable of, and that's special. We can push our case; the team is ready, everyone's performing, and we're just focused on making everything come together from game one. Playing this 50-over World Cup in India, with its unique conditions and incredible support, makes it an exciting and special tournament,” she concluded.
A Commonwealth Games Bronze? ✅
A debut T20 World Cup Title? ✅
The only thing left is to complete the set: winning the ODI World Cup and ending the 25-year drought. The White Ferns won't go down easy; underestimate them at your peril.